Born María de los Dolores Flores Ruíz, Lola Flores became a famous dancer and singer of Andalusian folklore at a very young age, featuring in films from 1939 to 1987. Her greatest success was in folklore shows with Manolo Caracol, who was her artistic partner until 1951.
In 1958 she married Antonio González el Pescaílla, a guitarist. She had three children: Dolores (singer and actress Lolita Flores); rock musician, singer and actor Antonio Flores; and singer and actress Rosario Flores.
Lola Flores died of cancer in 1995, aged 72, and was interred in the Cementerio de la Almudena in Madrid. Shortly after her death, her distraught 34-year-old son died of a drug overdose and was buried near her.
Lola de España
Lola Flores Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De faraones viene mi cantar,
Con mi penita pena,
Mi zarzamora, te hago llorar,
Flores de mi apellido,
Para mi España,
Grande, inmortal,
Un grito de la alegría,
Lola, Lola morena,
Lola de España,
Lola y na más, Lola.
Flores de mi apellido,
Para mi España,
Grande, inmortal,
Un grito de la alegría,
Y de la pena de mi cantar,
Lola, Lola morena,
Lola de España,
Lola y na más, Lola
The lyrics depict Lola Flores as a proud and passionate Spanish woman, singing about her heritage and emotions. The opening line speaks to her physical appearance, being a "morena" or dark-skinned woman. She then references the pharaohs, perhaps alluding to the idea of being regal or powerful, which ties into her family name of Flores.
She then mentions her sorrow and how it makes her "zarzamora" or blackberry cry, perhaps a metaphor for how her pain affects those around her. The following lines reiterate her pride in being Spanish and her desire to celebrate both the joys and sorrows of life through her music. Lola is described as embodying all that is Spain - an unspoken claim to being a cultural icon.
The use of repetition in the final lines cements her identity as "Lola de España" and her importance in the country's cultural legacy. The song is an emotional and patriotic ode to Lola Flores and her impact as a Spanish artist.
Line by Line Meaning
Lola, Lola morena
Oh Lola, Lola with dark skin
De faraones viene mi cantar
My song comes from the pharaohs, from the ancestors
Con mi penita pena
With my sadness and pain
Mi zarzamora, te hago llorar
My blackberry, I make you cry
Flores de mi apellido
Flowers of my surname
Para mi España, Grande, inmortal
For my Spain, grand and immortal
Un grito de la alegría
A cry of joy
Y de la pena de mi cantar
And the pain of my song
Lola, Lola morena
Oh Lola, Lola with dark skin
Lola de España
Lola of Spain
Lola y na más, Lola
Lola and nothing else, Lola
Flores de mi apellido
Flowers of my surname
Para mi España, Grande, inmortal
For my Spain, grand and immortal
Un grito de la alegría
A cry of joy
Y de la pena de mi cantar
And the pain of my song
Lola, Lola morena
Oh Lola, Lola with dark skin
Lola de España
Lola of Spain
Lola y na más, Lola
Lola and nothing else, Lola
Writer(s): Ignacio Roman, Nicolas Sanchez
Contributed by Nicholas E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vicenterosales1226
Lola de España, Ay España de mi alma, Ay España España mía fueron tres de las canciones mas bellas que se escribieron para la Gran Lola y ella estaba en su mejor momento... Lola.. la más Grande.. Única.