La Paloma
Julio Iglesias & Nana Mouskouri Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Cuando salí de la habana, valgame dios
Nadie me ha visto salir sino fui yo
Y una linda guachinanga como una flor
Se vino detrás de mi, que si seor
Si a tu ventana llega una paloma

Tratala con cario que es mi persona
Cuentale tus amores bien de mi vida
Corónala de flores que es cosa mía
Ay chinita que si, ay que dame tu amor
Ay que vente conmigo chinita
A donde vivo yo

Y una linda guachinanga como una flor
Se vino detrás de mi, que si seor
Si a tu ventana llega una paloma
Tratala con cario que es mi persona
Cuntale tus amores bien de mi vida
Corónala de flores que es cosa mía

Ay chinita que si, ay que dame tu amor
Ay que vente conmigo chinita
A donde vivo yo
Ay chinita que si, ay que dame tu amor




Ay que vente conmigo chinita
A donde vivo yo

Overall Meaning

The first line of the song, "Cuando salí de la habana, valgame dios" which translates to "When I left Havana, oh my God," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is reminiscing on a love he left behind in Cuba and is now asking someone to take care of a message he is sending through a paloma (a dove). He asks the person to treat the dove with kindness because it carries a message that is very personal to him. He also asks the person to adorn the dove with flowers because it is his way of honoring those he loves.


The chorus describes a woman, a "linda guachinanga como una flor" (a pretty girl like a flower) who followed the singer when he left Havana. He asks her to come with him to his new home and promises to take care of her. The singer is so smitten with this girl that he is willing to drop everything and take her away with him. The use of the term "chinita," while not a derogatory label in this context but merely refers to someone of Asian descent, shines light on the multicultural nature of Cuba which had a variety of ethnic groups.


Line by Line Meaning

Cuando salí de la habana, valgame dios
When I left Havana, dear God


Nadie me ha visto salir sino fui yo
No one saw me leave except for me


Y una linda guachinanga como una flor
And a beautiful guachinanga like a flower


Se vino detrás de mi, que si seor
She came after me, yes sir


Si a tu ventana llega una paloma
If a dove arrives at your window


Tratala con cario que es mi persona
Treat her with care, she represents me


Cuentale tus amores bien de mi vida
Tell her well about my love life


Corónala de flores que es cosa mía
Crown her with flowers, it's my thing


Ay chinita que si, ay que dame tu amor
Oh little one, yes, oh give me your love


Ay que vente conmigo chinita
Oh, come with me, little one


A donde vivo yo
To where I live




Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Hansa Musik Verlag, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARDY KINGSTON, SEBASTIAN (DP) YRADIER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@mmargaryda

Magnifico!

@julioiglesiasforever

Me encanta esta canción, con la letra tradicional antigua de La Paloma. Un dúo espléndido. Genial!!!. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

@pautausi9141

Bring tears to my eyes when l hear this timeless tune as I think of my late parents.

@brunomenazza637

Julio e Nanà, una bellissima canzone, due grandi artisti! Un mas grande saludo desde Italia!👍👍👍🎼👏👏👏🇮🇹🤝🙋‍♂️

@andrealize1357

Quel Duo ca donne les frissons deux grands chanteurs . Merci beaucoup

@robertborich4524

She is so beautiful.

@sergekopyakouamou4709

La passion l amour et surtout l inconnu s invite dans mon coeur quand je vous écoute

@georgesstls3772

que de beau souvenir de jeunesse

@mirianalves7796

Que espetáculo...de explodir o coração!!!

@nicolequintin5892

Gracias -

More Comments

More Versions