Marta and her group perform a repertoire of original compositions based on Latin American rhythms. She mixes the joy of the Caribbean with the nostalgia of the Andes, adding jazz and pop elements. With more than 70 compositions, she has traversed Colombian cumbias and bambucos, Argentine zambas, Cuban son and Peruvian landos, with results that evoke in whatever language she is singing in. That may be the reason that lead Marta to share the stage with musicians of different genres such as Bonnie Raitt , John Mayer, Totó la Momposina and Mercedes Sosa. Marta was also chosen to record Kris Kristofferson’s “The Circle” on a tribute to this great American icon. Marta “lifted that song up to when it’s supposed to be, to where it belongs,” according to Kristofferson himself.
In March 2003, Marta’s song "Paula Ausente", based on the book "Paula" by Isabel Allende, won the The SIBL Project International songwriting contest as the best song inspired by a South American book. The song was included on a CD among artists such as Tom Waits and David Bowie.
Her song “La Ronda” was included in the Putumayo World Music compilation entitled “Women of Latin America”. In 2005 Marta was chosen by “Fucsia”, a Colombian magazine as one of the 5 Most representative Colombian women of the year. With four albums under her belt, her self-released "Solo es vivir" was chosen by The Boston Globe as one of the 10 best albums of 2003 and her "Cantos de Agua Dulce" (2004) released by Chesky Records, was nominated for the Billboard Latin Music Awards as the best Latin Jazz Album of the year among Paco de Lucia’s, Nestor Torres’ and Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s. Her album “Entre Cada Palabra” (2005 chesky records) placed Marta Gómez as “The Best National World-Music Artist of 2006” by the Boston Phoenix. In an interview on the National Public Radio, journalist Steve Inskeep said he admires Marta’s capacity of “turning the bitter history of her native country into sweet music”.
La Ronda
Marta Gómez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De pan y canela
Dame un besito, vete pa'la escuela
Que juegue a la ronda el sol y la tierra
A la rueda ruedita tierra de piedra
Dame un besito sol de madera.
A la rueda rueda luz
A la rueda rueda mar
De pan y canela aire
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela
Arre caballito hecho de madera
No andes tan despacio al subir la cuesta
Que juegue a la ronda el mar y la arena
Arre mi caballito arena de piedra
No andes tan despacio mar de madera
A la rueda rueda sol
De pan y canela lluvia
A la rueda rueda sal
De pan y canela cielo
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela
A la rueda rueda luz
De pan y canela agua
A la rueda rueda paz
De pan y canela guerra
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela.
The song "La Ronda" by Marta Gómez contains beautiful, rhythmic lyrics that express the idea of bringing together different elements of nature and life to play a round of "ronda," which involves moving in a circle and singing. The opening line "a la rueda rueda" sets the tone, meaning "let's roll in the circle." The following lines "de pan y canela" (with bread and cinnamon) and "dame un besito, vete pa'la escuela" (give me a kiss and go to school) suggest that this could be a song sung among children, possibly during recess or group playtime.
The song then goes on to bring in the elements of nature, with references to the sun, earth, wind, sea, and sand. The repetition of "pan y canela" in each verse could symbolize something comforting and familiar, like the feeling of coming home, but also something that brings people together. The lines "arre caballito hecho de madera" (go horsey made of wood) and "no andes tan despacio al subir la cuesta" (don't go so slow up the hill) suggest a playful spirit and a reminder to keep moving forward.
The final verses express a hope for resolution and peace, with images of light, water, and tranquility. The repetition of the line "a ver si se acaban to'los problemas" (let's see if we can solve all the problems) reinforces the idea that playing together can bring people closer and help to overcome challenges.
Overall, the lyrics of "La Ronda" evoke a sense of playfulness, togetherness, and the beauty of nature. Its simple but effective language makes it easy to sing along and join in the round.
Line by Line Meaning
A la rueda rueda
Let's go in circles
De pan y canela
With the scent of bread and cinnamon
Dame un besito, vete pa'la escuela
Give me a kiss and go to school
Que juegue a la ronda el sol y la tierra
Let the sun and the earth play in the circle
A la rueda ruedita tierra de piedra
Let's go in circles on the rocky ground
Dame un besito sol de madera.
Give me a kiss sun made of wood.
A la rueda rueda luz
Let's go in circles with the light
De pan y canela viento
With the scent of bread and cinnamon wind
A la rueda rueda mar
Let's go in circles with the sea
De pan y canela aire
With the scent of bread and cinnamon air
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Let's see if we can solve all our problems
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela
Playing in a circle with the scent of bread and cinnamon
Arre caballito hecho de madera
Go faster, horse made of wood
No andes tan despacio al subir la cuesta
Don't climb the hill so slowly
Que juegue a la ronda el mar y la arena
Let the sea and the sand play in the circle
Arre mi caballito arena de piedra
Go faster, my horse made of rocky sand
No andes tan despacio mar de madera
Don't move so slowly, sea made of wood
A la rueda rueda sol
Let's go in circles with the sun
De pan y canela lluvia
With the scent of bread and cinnamon rain
A la rueda rueda sal
Let's go in circles with the salt
De pan y canela cielo
With the scent of bread and cinnamon sky
A la rueda rueda agua
Let's go in circles with the water
A la rueda rueda paz
Let's go in circles with the peace
De pan y canela guerra
With the scent of bread and cinnamon war
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Let's see if we can solve all our problems
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela
Playing in a circle with the scent of bread and cinnamon
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Let's see if we can solve all our problems
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela
Playing in a circle with the scent of bread and cinnamon
A ver si se acaban to'los problemas
Let's see if we can solve all our problems
Jugando a la ronda pan y canela.
Playing in a circle with the scent of bread and cinnamon
Writer(s): Gomez Marta I
Contributed by Jackson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@luisalonsovelascoparrado8865
La sencillez echa melodía y la armonía hecha memoria
@raulpardomorales7994
Qué frase!
@lourlee
Marta Gómez es de esas voces que una vez que la escuchas, quieres seguir escuchando sus canciones, una y otra vez. Una es mejor que la otra. Tuve la gran dicha de asistir a un concierto en el Teatro Teresa Carreño de Caracas y quedé maravillada con su voz. Excelente colombiana.
@ednabarrios5281
Gracias bella mujer Latina. Eres un canto a la vida, al Corazón del cielo, al corazón de la Madre Pacha Mama
@rucato
el ritmo q han usado para esta canción es landó, un ritmo afroperuano, viva el Peru!! Desde Lima- Perú, un saludo!
@yani7649
Bella canción, porqué no la había escuchado antes a ésta mujer!!
@aldacarrascochacana6850
Maravillosa ...Marta....escucharte...gracias por tanto!!!!
@moonlightgraham1089
La Ronda was the first song that I ever heard by Marta, might have been 2004; as soon as I heard it, I was sold forever. Got all her albums, work out arrangements of her songs on my guitar, tell people about her. Met some people from Colombia last year - they all adore her. Well, isn't she just adorable... Let's hope her songs drift across the universe forever, a fitting tribute to the planet on which we live and an aspiration and inspiration, in our difficult times. Gracias siempre, Marta xx
@vivimunit
que lindo canta... y que linda cancion... no las conocia pero ya me conquistó... saludos desde chile
@nora4202
En mi colegio pasaron la hoja con la letra y la cantabamos hasta el fin de la clase nos encanto todos eran a la rueda rueda luz de pan y canela una cancion hermoss