La tabaquera
José Luis Perales Lyrics
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cerillas y tabaco se venden en un rincón,
cerillas y tabaco se venden en un rincón.
La oigo cantar: ¡cerillas y papel!
y toma sorbo a sorbo su café
y mira sin hablar y piensa sin saber,
por qué llego a este mundo, y para qué.
Y su pregunta,
voló de mesa en mesa sin respuesta
quedándose dormida tras la puerta,
por si alguien quiere un día contestar.
Y yo la miro...
y quiero recordarla tal como era
yo quiero hablar de aquella tabaquera,
que un día en la taberna me miró.
De joven tuvo amores con un apuesto señor
pero voló tan alto que un día ya no volvió,
pero voló tan alto que un día ya no volvió.
Y le dejó cerillas y papel,
y todo un testamento por hacer;
riquezas por ganar, y sedas por tejer,
y un bello rinconcito en un café...
Y una pregunta,
que va de mesa en mesa sin respuesta;
y que quedó dormida tras las puerta
por si alguien quiere un día contestar.
Y yo la miro...
y quiero recordarla tal como era;
yo quiero hablar de aquella tabaquera,
que un día en la taberna me miró.
The song La Tabaquera by José Luis Perales tells the story of a woman who sells matches and tobacco in a corner. Despite having a smile on her lips, her heart holds a deep sadness that is evident in her eyes, as she looks at the customers who pass by. In the café where she takes a break, she sips coffee and contemplates life, wondering why she exists and what her purpose in life is. Her question goes unanswered, drifting from table to table until it falls asleep behind the door, waiting for someone to provide an answer one day. The singer laments the missed opportunity to know her better, to understand her past and her unfulfilled dreams.
The woman had once been in love with a handsome man, but she flew so high that one day she never returned. She left behind her matches and paper, a testament to the life she had lived, and a reminder that there were riches to be won and silks to be woven. Despite her absence, she leaves behind memories of her presence in the form of a beautiful corner of a café where she used to rest.
The lyrics of La Tabaquera are poetic and emotional, combining nostalgia, regret, and an appreciation for fleeting moments. The song speaks to the power of human connection and the need to appreciate the people who cross our paths, no matter how briefly.
Line by Line Meaning
Sonrisas bajo el brazo y pena en el corazón,
Carrying a smile but hiding sorrow within
cerillas y tabaco se venden en un rincón,
Matches and tobacco sold in a corner
La oigo cantar: ¡cerillas y papel!
I hear her singing 'matches and paper!'
y toma sorbo a sorbo su café
She sips her coffee slowly
y mira sin hablar y piensa sin saber,
Silent and lost in thought
por qué llego a este mundo, y para qué.
Wondering why she is in this world and what is her purpose
Y su pregunta,
And her question
voló de mesa en mesa sin respuesta
Echoing through the tables with no answer
quedándose dormida tras la puerta,
Staying dormant behind the door
por si alguien quiere un día contestar.
In case someone wants to answer someday
Y yo la miro...
And I look at her...
y quiero recordarla tal como era
And I want to remember her as she was
yo quiero hablar de aquella tabaquera,
I want to speak about that tobacco seller
que un día en la taberna me miró.
Who once looked at me in the tavern
De joven tuvo amores con un apuesto señor
She had loved a handsome gentleman when she was young
pero voló tan alto que un día ya no volvió,
But he flew too high and never returned
y le dejó cerillas y papel,
He left her matches and paper
y todo un testamento por hacer;
And a whole testament to fulfill
riquezas por ganar, y sedas por tejer,
Riches to gain and silks to weave
y un bello rinconcito en un café...
And a beautiful corner in a cafe...
Y una pregunta,
And a question
que va de mesa en mesa sin respuesta;
That echoes unanswered from table to table;
y que quedó dormida tras las puerta
And remains dormant behind the door
por si alguien quiere un día contestar.
In case someone wants to answer someday
Y yo la miro...
And I look at her...
y quiero recordarla tal como era;
And I want to remember her as she was;
yo quiero hablar de aquella tabaquera,
I want to speak about that tobacco seller
que un día en la taberna me miró.
Who once looked at me in the tavern
Contributed by Elizabeth N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.