Samba Malató
La Colmena Lyrics

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La zamba se pasea con la batea (landó)
Zamba malató (landó)
Zamba malató (landó)
Zamba malató (landó)

Bailando se menea pa′ que la vean (landó)
Zamba malató (landó)
Zamba malató (landó)

Zamba malató (landó)

Ese pajarillo pecho colorao'
Ese pajarillo pecho colorao′
Eso te sucede negro, por enamorao'
Eso te sucede negro, por enamorao'

Landó, landó
Zamba landó, landó

Landó, landó
Zamba landó, landó

Landó, landó
Zamba landó, landó

En fregao′ y bata el tiempo ha pasao′
En fregao' y bata el tiempo ha pasao′
Espera y espera, zamba, que el tiempo ha llegao'
Espera y espera, zamba, que el tiempo ha llegao′

Landó, landó
Zamba landó, landó
Landó, landó
Zamba landó, landó
Landó, landó
Zamba landó, landó

La zamba se pasea con la batea
Bailando se menea pa' que la vean
La negra se menea pa′ que la vean

A la mucurú (a loñá loñá)
A la recolé (Hoguerequeté)
Babalorichá (a la mucurú)
Oyokororó (Oyokororó)
A la mucurú (Babalorichá)
Babaloriché (Eee tiritiri)
Mandé mandé
Mandé mandé
Mandé mandé

Con la batea, la negra se menea
Con la batea, la negra se menea
Con la batea, la negra se menea

Con la batea, la negra se menea
Con la batea

Overall Meaning

The song "Samba Malató" by La Colmena is a traditional-style landó, a slower and more somber Afro-Peruvian rhythm that originated in the slave plantations of Peru. The lyrics describe a woman (negra) dancing and swinging her hips with a basin (batea) in her hand. The chorus repeats "Zamba Malató," which is likely a made-up term that simply sounds pleasing to the ear. The verses also mention a red-breasted bird (pajarillo pecho colorao') and imply that its enamored state is causing it to suffer.

The song's repetitive rhythm and lyrics suggest a sense of patience and waiting, as the "negra" dances on and on with her basin. There is a sense of both struggle and endurance in the song, as the landó rhythm is derived from the African slaves' experiences of working on coastal plantations. The song's various calls and responses, such as "a la recolé" and "Babaloriché" reflect the African-influenced cultural practices and spirituality that was practiced in the Afro-Peruvian community.

Line by Line Meaning

La zamba se pasea con la batea (landó)
The zamba dances while holding a washbasin (landó)

Zamba malató (landó)
This is a sad zamba song (landó)

Bailando se menea pa′ que la vean (landó)
Dancing and shaking to be seen (landó)

Ese pajarillo pecho colorao'
That red-breasted bird

Eso te sucede negro, por enamorao'
That happens to you, my friend, because you're in love

En fregao′ y bata el tiempo ha pasao′
Time has passed while working and wearing traditional clothing

Espera y espera, zamba, que el tiempo ha llegao'
Wait and wait, zamba, the time has come

La negra se menea pa′ que la vean
The black girl shakes to be seen

A la mucurú (a loñá loñá)
The music starts with 'mucuru' (a loña loña)

A la recolé (Hoguerequeté)
Then it changes to 'recolé' (Hoguerequeté)

Babalorichá (a la mucurú)
Then it goes back to 'mucuru' while chanting 'Babalorichá'