Marta Gómez is a latin singer and composer from Colombia, currently residin… Read Full Bio ↴Marta Gómez is a latin singer and composer from Colombia, currently residing in New York City. Graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Berklee College of Music, after receiving the Best Achievement Scholarship, Marta Gómez has developed an extensive music career in the US.

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”.

María Mulata
Marta Gómez Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Aunque ella de santa no tiene na'
Quien la ve volar tan cerca del agua piensa que se va a caer
...que se va a caer

La llaman asi la Maria mulata
Aunque de mulata no tiene na'
Y el negro brillante de sus dos alas

Contrasta con el azul de su mar

CORO:
Maria Mulata (ella de santa no tiene na')
Maria Mulata (ella de mulata no tiene na')
Ay Maria Mulata (no tiene na')
...

Muy cerca del mar la Maria Mulata
Ella espera la hora de ir a robar
Quien la ve pasar cerca a la comida

Sabe, se la llevar
...se la va a llevar >

Overall Meaning

The song "Maria Mulata" by Marta Gómez tells the story of a woman named Maria who is known as "mulata" despite not having any African heritage. She is also not perceived as a saintly woman, as her actions suggest otherwise. She is described as flying near the water, with onlookers fearing she will fall. Maria is portrayed as someone who is daring and adventurous, waiting for the perfect opportunity to "steal" something, perhaps suggesting she is a thief. When she passes by food, people know it will be taken.

The song uses lyrical devices to depict Maria's personality and actions vividly. The poetic descriptions of Maria soaring near the water with her shining black wings contrasting with the blue of the sea suggest a strong-headed woman who stands out from the crowd. The lyrics also suggest that Maria is not content with the status quo and is not afraid to take risks. The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes the two contradictory descriptions of Maria, highlighting her ambiguity and complexity.

Overall, "Maria Mulata" is a stylized portrait of a woman who defies conventions and societal expectations. Marta Gómez's beautiful melody and poetic lyrics create a vivid image of Maria's life and challenge the listener to question their assumptions about gender, race, and social constructs.

Line by Line Meaning

La llaman así la Maria Mulata
They call her Maria Mulata

Aunque ella de santa no tiene na'
Even though she is not a saint

Quien la ve volar tan cerca del agua piensa que se va a caer
When people see her flying so close to the water, they think she will fall

...que se va a caer
...that she will fall

Aunque de mulata no tiene na'
Even though she is not a Mulata

Y el negro brillante de sus dos alas
And the shiny black of her two wings

Contrasta con el azul de su mar
Contrasts with the blue of her sea

Maria Mulata (ella de santa no tiene na')
Maria Mulata (she is not a saint)

Maria Mulata (ella de mulata no tiene na')
Maria Mulata (she is not a Mulata)

Ay Maria Mulata (no tiene na')
Oh Maria Mulata (she has nothing)

Muy cerca del mar la Maria Mulata
Very close to the sea, Maria Mulata