In her native town of Rosario, Sinaloa, Beltrán completed her secretarial studies while she participated in many singing competitions. She then moved to Mexico City where she was discovered while working at the radio station XEW, and never went back to Rosario again.
She married Alfredo Leal, a matador and film actor, and with him had two children: María Elena Leal, who is also a singer, and José Leal. She entered the world of film in 1954 starring in El tesoro de la muerte. After participating in dozens of films, most of them musicals, she obtained a role in the telenovela Mi rival with Saby Kamalich. In 1976 and 1984 she hosted the musical shows Noches tapatías and El estudio de Lola Beltrán respectively.
Beltrán is still considered with Lucha Reyes the most successful ranchera-music singer of all time. She was the first ranchera singer to perform at the Palacio de Bellas Artes. She also performed at the Olympia music hall in Paris, the Tchaikovsky Hall of Moscow and the Conservatory of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in the former Soviet Union.
Soon after recording Disco del Siglo with Lucha Villa and Amalia Mendoza "La Tariácuri" (produced by Juan Gabriel) she died of a massive pulmonary embolism at the Ángeles hospital of Mexico City.
Caballo Prieto Azabache
Lola Beltrán Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
como olvidarte te debo la vida.
Cuando iban a fusilarme,
las fuerzas leales de Pancho Villa.
Fue aquella noche nublada,
una avanzada me sorprendioooo.
Y... después de... de... sar... marme,
fui condenado al paredón.
le dijo villa a su asistente,
me apartas ese caballo
por educado y obediente.
Sabia que no iba a escaparme,
solo pensaba en mi salvación,
Y... tu mi prie... to.a.za.bache
tambien pensaste igual que yo.
Recuerdo que me dijeron
pide un deseo pa' justiciarte
yo quiero morir monta'o en mi caballo
prieto azabache.
Y cuando en ti me montaron
y prepararon, la ejecucución,
mi... voz... de man... do.es.peraste
te abalanzaste sobre el pelotón.
con tres balazos de mauser,
corriste azabache, salvando mi vida,
lo que tu hiciste conmigo
caballo amigo no se me olvida.
No pude salvar la tuya,
y la amargura me hace llorar,
por eso prie... to a.za... bache,
no he de olvidarte nunca jamás.
The lyrics of Lola Beltrán's song "Caballo prieto azabache" are about a man who owes his life to a black horse named Azabache. The man was about to be executed during the Mexican Revolution by Pancho Villa's loyal forces when Azabache saved him. The man remembers the nublada (cloudy) night when he was surprised by an advancing group of soldiers who took him into custody and condemned him to be executed. While in his cell, Villa asked his assistant to separate Azabache because he admired the horse's manners and obedience. The man knew he couldn't escape but hoped for salvation, and Azabache seemed to have thought the same, so they both shared the desire to live.
The man was given the chance to make a wish before he was executed, and he asked to be killed while riding Azabache. When the execution came, Azabache sensed the danger and didn't wait for the signal to run. The horse rushed ahead and became a shield, receiving three gunshots from the execution squad. The man survived, but Azabache didn't. The man felt an insurmountable sadness for not being able to save the horse's life. The black horse's memory persisted, and the man will never forget the sacrifice that Azabache made to provide him with another chance to live.
Line by Line Meaning
Caballo prieto azabache,
Dark black horse, you are unforgettable.
como olvidarte te debo la vida.
I owe you my life and cannot forget you.
Cuando iban a fusilarme,
When they were going to execute me,
las fuerzas leales de Pancho Villa.
Pancho Villa's loyal troops.
Fue aquella noche nublada,
It was that cloudy night,
una avanzada me sorprendioooo.
I was surprised by a patrol.
Y... después de... de... sar... marme,
And after they tied me up,
fui condenado al paredón.
I was sentenced to the firing squad.
Ya cuando estuve en capilla,
When I was in the cell,
le dijo villa a su asistente,
Villa told his assistant,
me apartas ese caballo
Take that horse away from me,
por educado y obediente.
Because he is gentle and obedient.
Sabia que no iba a escaparme,
I knew I couldn't escape,
solo pensaba en mi salvación,
I only thought about my salvation,
Y... tu mi prie... to.a.za.bache
And you, my dark black horse,
tambien pensaste igual que yo.
Thought the same thing as me.
Recuerdo que me dijeron
I remember they told me,
pide un deseo pa' justiciarte
Make a wish for your execution,
yo quiero morir monta'o en mi caballo
I want to die while riding my horse,
prieto azabache.
Dark black horse.
Y cuando en ti me montaron
And when they put me on you,
y prepararon, la ejecucución,
And prepared for the execution,
mi... voz... de man... do.es.peraste
You heard my desperate, trembling voice.
te abalanzaste sobre el pelotón.
You charged towards the firing squad.
con tres balazos de mauser,
With three Mauser shots,
corriste azabache, salvando mi vida,
You ran, saving my life,
lo que tu hiciste conmigo
What you did for me,
caballo amigo no se me olvida.
Dear horse, I will never forget.
No pude salvar la tuya,
I couldn't save yours,
y la amargura me hace llorar,
And the bitterness makes me cry,
por eso prie... to a.za... bache,
That's why, dark black horse,
no he de olvidarte nunca jamás.
I will never forget you.
Writer(s): Jose Albarran Martinez
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Rogriskhan
Que voz más bella. Esta cantante mexicana y la gran Amparo Ochoa están entre las más notables representantes de la música representativa de México.. Gracias por compartir esta bella canción e interpretación...
@carlotaosuna2736
Hermosa bella, Sra. DAMA LOLA BELTRAN...PURO SINALOA...VOZ HERMOSA TUS MANOS, TU TEMPLE. DEP.
@edsondominguezcruz9958
la mejor representante de la música popular Mexicana
@diosnelyangelaorue8125
ME ALEGRA Y REVIVE EL ALMA ESCUCHAR A LA REINA DE LA CANCION MEXICANA
@joseluismolinacruz9424
Que voz tan hermosa de lolita beltrán
@isa020909
lola beltran como te quiero, gracias por llenar el corazon mio y de mi famlia de amor
amo oirte cantar ,amo tu voz y tu bondad.
vas a vivir por siempre lola beltran
@gabrielcastanonramirez4668
La música de esta gran Señora me de recuerda mucho a mi Padre. Bendita seas Lo la.
@bernardohuerta1439
La grande sin duda
@josele637
EN MADRID HOMENAJEANDO A VILLA.
@robertitosanchez7630
Como no estar ahí si eras mas larga y mas extensa ....desde el cielo te saluda tu admirante te amo lola