Florencio Santana, Gerardo Macia, Felix Escobar and Nico Saquito founded Lo… Read Full Bio ↴Florencio Santana, Gerardo Macia, Felix Escobar and Nico Saquito founded Los Guaracheros de Oriente (The Guaracha Players of Oriente) in 1940. Saquito, who passed away in 1981, was one of Cuba's most prolific and beloved song-writers and many of his songs are classics of the Cuban repertoire. The quartet moved to Venezuela in 1950 and gained local fame by performing live on radio variety programmes. Saquito left the group in 1955, but they continued on as a trio, moving to the United States in 1959.

As the name of the group implies, Los Guaracheros de Oriente primarily performed <>, a relative of the <> that developed in eastern Cuba. <> is essentially a balladic song style with poetic lyrics and lush, multi-part harmonies that were very influenced by French and Spanish music. It is less percussive and syncopated than <>, but they are both instantly engaging musical styles that liven up any party. The instrumentation is often quite basic: guitar, <>, <> and <> (cowbell).

El paralítico
Los Guaracheros De Oriente Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Veinte años en mi termino
Me encontraba paralítico
Y me dijo un hombre místico
Que me extirpara el trigémino
Veinte años en mi término

Pero, que bota la muleta y el bastón
Y podrás bailar el son

Hace tiempo que vivía, ¡ay dios!
Postergado en un sillón, ¡ay dios!
Hace tiempo que vivía, ¡ay dios!
Postergado en un sillón, ¡ay dios!
Y hoy corro la población, negra
Más rápido que un tranvía

Pero, que coge la muleta

La muleta y el bastón,!ay dios!
Tíramela alegremente, ¡ ay dios!
La muleta y el bastón, ¡ ay dios!
Tíramela alegremente, ¡ay dios!
Para que vea la gente, negra
Como es que se baila el son

Pero, que bota la muleta

Dijo un doctor farolero, ¡ay dios!
Mucho mas bueno que el pan, ¡ay dios!
Dijo un doctor farolero, ¡ay dios!
Mucho mas bueno que el pan, ¡ ay dios!

Anda y ve a San Sebastián
Para que te opere Asuero

Pero, que coge la muleta

Overall Meaning

The song "El Paralitico" by Los Guaracheros De Oriente is about a man who was paralyzed for twenty years until he met a mystic man who suggested he get his trigeminal nerve removed. After the successful surgery, he is able to dance the son, a Cuban dance style. The song emphasizes the importance of overcoming obstacles and enjoying life to the fullest. The lyrics reference the man's previous life of being stuck in a chair and his newfound freedom to run faster than a tram.

The chorus of the song encourages the man to throw away his cane and crutch and dance with joy. The second verse introduces a doctor who recommends a different surgery to the paralyzed man, but ultimately it is his ability to let go of the crutch that allows him to live freely. The song ends with the man embracing his newfound ability to dance.

Los Guaracheros De Oriente are known for playing son music, a traditional Cuban music style that originated in the late 19th century. The band formed in the 1940s and has since become a prominent figure in the son music genre. The song "El Paralitico" gained popularity in the 1940s and 1950s and has since been covered by numerous artists.

Line by Line Meaning

Veinte años en mi termino
I spent twenty years in one place, dealing with paralysis.

Me encontraba paralítico
I was paralyzed and couldn't move.

Y me dijo un hombre místico
A mystical man instructed me.

Que me extirpara el trigémino
He suggested that I get the trigeminal nerve removed.

Pero, que bota la muleta y el bastón
But I threw away my crutch and cane.

Y podrás bailar el son
Then, I could dance the son rhythm.

Hace tiempo que vivía, ¡ay dios!
I used to live a long time ago, oh God!

Postergado en un sillón, ¡ay dios!
I was stuck on a chair, oh God!

Y hoy corro la población, negra
But now I run through the black population.

Más rápido que un tranvía
I run faster than a tram.

La muleta y el bastón, ¡ay dios!
The crutch and cane, oh God!