In the feverish activity during six decades of the twentieth century, Lucho… Read Full Bio ↴In the feverish activity during six decades of the twentieth century, Lucho Bermúdez got to compose 1000 songs, many of them recorded on 80 long play records. He dedicated his 'Porro Carmen de Bolívar' to his hometown, which turned into an anthem in the voice of his wife, Matilde Díaz. His group, "Orquesta de Lucho Bermúdez", went all over Colombia (his native country), first as a group of important radio stations and then as an invited orchestra to clubs, hotels, grills, carnivals and fairs. The clarinet played by Lucho was the pattern for the good tone in porros, gaitas, cumbias, boleros and pasillos, which caused furor. Even though it is not widely known, his artistic production started with tunes of the interior region. Bambucos, torbellinos, guabinas and sanjuaneros, are then in his compendium.

He was born in 1912 and died in 1994 in Bogotá. At an early age he learned to play the piccolo, pipe organ, trumpet, stick trombone, saxophone, and clarinet. 'Marbella', 'Cadetes Navales', 'Calamarí', 'Prende la Vela', 'Las Mujeres de San Diego', 'Joselito Carnaval', 'Borrachera', 'El Veneno de los Hombres', 'Danza Negra', 'San Fernando', 'Salsipuedes', 'Linda Caleñita', 'Los Primos Sánchez' and 'Gaita De Las Flores' are some of his most famous compositions. On June 13, 1954, the day of inauguration of Colombian television, Lucho Bermúdez acted in the first transmission. In 1968 he released a new rhythm and dance called Patacumbia. Months before dying in Bogotá, the liberal leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán had made the following prediction to Lucho Bermúdez: "Your music will be like me: everybody will love it".

Tambores De Chambacu
Lucho Bermúdez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tambores de Chambacú
Tambores de Chambacú
Chambacú

Vengo con mis tambores
Vengo con mi lamento
Ritmo de sentimiento
Cumbia de mis amores

Tambores de Chambacú
Que van sintiendo mi pena
Tambores de Chambacú
Que van sintiendo mi pena

Lleno de pasiones
El tambor resuena
Ritmo que envenena
A los corazones

Tambores de Chambacú
Que van sintiendo mi pena
Tambores de Chambacú
Que van sintiendo mi pena

Cuando tengo tristezas
Y en el alma un anhelo
Grito con sentimiento
Cumbia, cumbia te quiero

Tambores de Chambacú
Que van sintiendo mi pena
Tambores de Chambacú
Que van sintiendo mi pena

(Chambacú, Chambacú)
(Chambacú, Chambacú)
Tambores de Chambacú
Chambacú
Tambores de Chambacú
Chambacú

(Chambacú, Chambacú)
(Chambacú, Chambacú)
Tambores de Chambacú
Chambacú

Tambores de Chambacú
Chambacú

Overall Meaning

Lucho Bermúdez's song "Tambores de Chambacú" is a cumbia masterpiece that portrays the rhythm of pain and love in a unique manner. The lyrics are straightforward, yet, they capture the complicated emotions of someone who is hurting, and is trying to find solace in the sound of the drums. The song is about the drums of Chambacú, which are played by the singer himself and the feeling they evoke within him and those who listen.

The drumbeats create a haunting melody that reflects the singer's sadness and longing for love. He sings "Vengo con mi lamento" (I come with my sorrow) and describes his passion and pain as the drums resonate in the background. The tambor resuena (drum resonates) and the rhythm that it creates "envenena a los corazones" (poison hearts), reminding the listener of the power that music holds.

The song is popular among Afro-Colombians and is considered a cultural icon in the country. It has been covered by multiple artists and played at festivals and celebrations. Its enduring popularity is due to the fact that it captures the soul of the Colombian people, who have lived through slavery, discrimination, and poverty yet managed to retain their pride and identity.

Line by Line Meaning

Tambores de Chambacú
Refers to the drums from the Chambacú region

Tambores de Chambacú
Repetition of the chorus

Chambacú
The name of a region where the music originated

Vengo con mis tambores
I come with my drums

Vengo con mi lamento
I come with my sorrows and sadness

Ritmo de sentimiento
A rhythm full of emotions

Cumbia de mis amores
A cumbia that represents my loves

Que van sintiendo mi pena
The drums feel my pain

Que van sintiendo mi pena
Repetition of the chorus

Lleno de pasiones
Full of passions

El tambor resuena
The drum resonates