Torero
Machito & His Afro-Cuban Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I met him on a bus in Barcelona
We kinda got to talkin'
But he did all the talkin'
I asked him what he did in Barcelona
In sunny Barcelona
And this is what he said
You are fortunate my friend
Of this there is no doubt
For everywhere I go the people shout
Hey torero make way for Don Jose the great torero
In Spain I am a famous Caballero
I fight the bravest bull in all the land
With the flip of the hip of the music of the band
I cha cha, the bull is so confused because I cha cha
I never kill him, only if he gets in my way
Torero, torero play
He bragged about the many senoritas
Who showered him with flowers
With big bouquets of flowers
He told me that in Holly wood
They want him to be like Marlon Brando
The great big movie star
But as he left the bus he met two men in white
He shouted as they took him out of sight
Hey torero
The lyrics to Machito & His Afro-Cuban Orchestra's song "Torero" tell the story of a man the singer met on a bus in Barcelona. The man describes himself as a famous torero, or bullfighter, in Spain. He boasts about his skills in the bullring, noting that he fights the bravest bull with ease while dancing the cha-cha. He claims that he only kills the bull if it gets in his way, demonstrating a sense of arrogance and disregard for the bull’s life. As the man bragged about his lifestyle and many admirers, he was abruptly taken away by two men in white, leaving the singer to wonder about his fate.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Chico, one more time
The singer intends to recount a story about meeting a torero in Barcelona.
I met him on a bus in Barcelona
The singer encountered the torero while traveling by bus in Barcelona.
We kinda got to talkin', But he did all the talkin'
Although the singer had a conversation with the torero, the latter was the one who was more talkative.
I asked him what he did in Barcelona, In sunny Barcelona, And this is what he said
The artist inquired about what the torero did in Barcelona, but the torero himself voluntarily shared his experiences and accomplishments.
You are fortunate my friend, Of this there is no doubt, For everywhere I go the people shout
The torero is confident about his fame and adoration wherever he goes, and shares this with the artist.
Hey torero make way for Don Jose the great torero, In Spain I am a famous Caballero
The torero claims to be Don Jose, a famous torero in Spain who is also considered a caballero or a gentlemen.
I fight the bravest bull in all the land, With the flip of the hip of the music of the band
The torero boasts his courage in facing the bravest bull and the gracefulness of his movements, which is synchronized with the music played by the accompanying band.
I cha cha, the bull is so confused because I cha cha, I never kill him, only if he gets in my way, Torero, torero play
The torero brags about how he 'cha chas' or confuses the bull with his movements, and mentions that he only kills the bull if it gets in his way. He then repeats 'Torero, torero play.'
He bragged about the many senoritas, Who showered him with flowers, With big bouquets of flowers
The torero tells the artist about the adoration and attention he receives from many senoritas or young women who shower him with flowers, which he emphasizes by mentioning 'big bouquets of flowers.'
He told me that in Holly wood, They want him to be like Marlon Brando, The great big movie star
The torero claims that he is also noticed in Hollywood and that they want him to be like Marlon Brando, a famous American actor.
But as he left the bus he met two men in white, He shouted as they took him out of sight, Hey torero
As the torero was leaving the bus, he encountered two men in white (perhaps doctors or psychiatric personnel) who took him out of sight, which causes him to shout 'Hey torero.'
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NICOLA SALERNO, RENATO CAROSONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind