<… Read Full Bio ↴María Jiménez Gallego (born 1950) is a Spanish singer born in Seville.
She's popular due to her liberal lyrics and performances. She started in tablaos like Las Brujas sponsored by La Pipa in the first years of Spanish democracy after Francisco Franco's dictatorship.
She released her first album in 1976, with Paco Cepero's arrangements. The album included rumbas, tangos, bulerías, boleros, rancheras and ballads by Silvio Rodríguez, Lolita de la Colina or Amancio Prada. After this album, she released Sensación and several compilations.
Her career was relaunched when she collaborated in the song La lista de la compra with the group La cabra mecánica and released Donde más duele with songs by Joaquín Sabina.
She was married to the actor Pepe Sancho and they had a son, Alejandro. She had had another child, María del Rocío in a previous marriage, who later died in a traffic accident.
Her opinions about gutter press and piracy are very famous. She has edited her biography and taken part in several films and sitcoms like Todos los hombres sois iguales. She's currently the conductor of the TV program Bienaventurados, in Canal sur.
Una Cancion Para La Magdalena
María Jiménez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que te conté,
Detrás de una gasolinera
Donde llené,
Te hacen un guiño unas bombillas
Azules, rojas y amarillas,
Pórtate bien
Y frena.
Pide un trago,
Tú la invitas a cien
Que yo los pago.
Acércate a su puerta y llama
Si te mueres de sed,
Si ya no juegas a las damas
Ni con tu mujer.
Sólo te pido que me escribas,
Contándome si sigue viva
La virgen del pecado,
La novia de la flor de la saliva,
El sexo con amor de los casados.
Dueña de un corazón,
Tan cinco estrellas,
Que, hasta el hijo de un Dios,
Una vez que la vio,
Se fue con ella.
Y nunca le cobró
La Magdalena.
Si estás más solo que la luna,
Déjate convencer,
Brindando a mi salud, con una
Que yo me sé.
Y, cuando suban las bebidas,
El doble de lo que te pida
Dale por sus favores,
Que, en casa de María de Magdala,
Las malas compañías son las mejores.
Si llevas grasa en la guantera
U un alma que perder,
Aparca, junto a sus caderas
De leche y miel.
Entre dos curvas redentoras
La más prohibida de las frutas
Te espera hasta la aurora,
La más señora de todas las putas,
La más puta de todas las señoras.
Con ese corazón,
Tan cinco estrellas,
Que, hasta el hijo de un Dios,
Una vez que la vio,
Se fue con ella,
Y nunca le cobró
La Magdalena.
The lyrics of María Jiménez's Una canción para la Magdalena are initially quite confusing and obscure, but they reveal a story about a mysterious woman, named Magdalena. The song speaks of her in a way that portrays her as a strong, independent woman who is unapologetic about her sexuality. She is depicted as a powerful figure that is equal to any man and who is not to be underestimated.
The song begins with the singer giving instructions on how to find Magdalena, who is hiding behind a gas station. The singer tells the listener to be aware of the lights, which are significant as they represent Magdalena's vibrant, multi-faceted personality. The singer then instructs the listener to approach Magdalena's door and offer her a drink; he will pay for it all. The singer requests that the listener write back to him, letting him know if Magdalena is still alive.
The song's lyrics are bathed in metaphors, and the singer never explicitly states who Magdalena is. However, it is believed that she represents Mary Magdalene, a misunderstood woman from the Bible, who many believe to have been a prostitute. María Jiménez's song portrays Mary Magdalene as a free-spirited, sexually liberated, and independent woman who does not obey the norms of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Si, a media noche, por la carretera que te conté,
If, at midnight, on the road I told you about,
detrás de una gasolinera donde llené,
Behind a gas station where I filled up,
te hacen un guiño unas bombillas azules, rojas y amarillas,
Some red, blue, and yellow bulbs wink at you,
pórtate bien y frena.
Drive safely and slow down.
Y, si la Magdalena pide un trago,
And if Magdalena wants a drink,
tú la invitas a cien que yo los pago.
You invite her to a hundred, and I'll pay for them.
Acércate a su puerta y llama si te mueres de sed,
Approach her door and knock if you're dying of thirst,
si ya no juegas a las damas ni con tu mujer.
If you no longer play games with your wife.
Sólo te pido que me escribas, contándome si sigue viva
I only ask that you write to me, telling me if she's still alive,
la virgen del pecado, la novia de la flor de la saliva,
The virgin of sin, the bride of the flower of saliva,
el sexo con amor de los casados.
Sex with love between married couples.
Dueña de un corazón, tan cinco estrellas,
Owner of a five-star heart,
que, hasta el hijo de un Dios, una vez que la vio, se fue con ella.
That even the son of a God, once he saw it, left with her.
Y nunca le cobró la Magdalena.
And Magdalena never charged him.
Si estás más solo que la luna,
If you're lonelier than the moon,
déjate convencer, brindando a mi salud, con una que yo me sé.
Let yourself be convinced, toasting to my health, with one I know.
Y, cuando suban las bebidas, el doble de lo que te pida
And when the drinks are served, give her twice what she asks for,
dale por sus favores, que, en casa de María de Magdala, las malas compañías son las mejores.
Pay her for her services, because bad company is the best at Mary of Magdala's house.
Si llevas grasa en la guantera u un alma que perder,
If you carry grease in the glove compartment or a soul to lose,
aparca, junto a sus caderas de leche y miel.
Park next to her hips of milk and honey.
Entre dos curvas redentoras la más prohibida de las frutas
Between two redemptive curves, the most forbidden of fruits,
te espera hasta la aurora, la más señora de todas las putas,
It waits for you until dawn, the most ladylike of all whores,
la más puta de todas las señoras.
The most whore-like of all ladies.
Con ese corazón, tan cinco estrellas,
With that five-star heart,
que, hasta el hijo de un Dios, una vez que la vio, se fue con ella,
That even the son of a God, once he saw it, left with her,
Y nunca le cobró la Magdalena.
And Magdalena never charged him.
Writer(s): Joaquin Ramon Sabina, Arias Pablo Milanes
Contributed by Eliana E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.