Pagan was a gifted vocalist. His light, floating tenor was as serenading as Smokey Robinson's, but more ardent when he came down from the clouds. His melodious crooning got some chart action on a remake of Bread's "Make It With You" (1971) for Wand Records (Fania contracted with Wand during this period). Two years later, he scored a minor charter with "Soul Je T'aime" with Sylvia Robinson (now there's a duet made in heaven) on Robinson's Vibration label; but its success was modest at number 39 R&B and 99 pop on Billboard. Other singles include "Didn't Want to Have to Do It," "Just for a Little While," and "Come Back Baby."
In addition to the four Fania albums, he had an obvious hand in Ralfi Pagan Presents Johnny Nelson, which is quite an item among collectors; Low Profile Records also reissued his second Fania album, Ralfi Pagan With Love. Examples of Pagan's haunting vocals can be found on ITP Records' East Side Classics series.
Negrona
Ralfi Pagan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quiero decirte mi vida, quiero decirte carino.
Negrona, en la palabra que nace,
Como resume de todo lo que te quiero decir.
Los mejores diccionarios, Que existen en cada idioma.
Yo lo busque noche y dia, Desde el principio hasta final.
Y el mas' sabio de los sabios,
Fue quien me dijo persona, A esa nena sin corona.
Para decirte carino.
Siempre te digo negrona, siempre te digo negrona.
The lyrics to Ralfi Pagan's song "Negrona" are a declaration of love and appreciation for a special someone. The word "negrona" is used to describe the person being addressed, and the singer explains that it is not meant as a negative epithet, but rather a term of endearment. When he says "negrona," he is trying to convey the depth of his affection and how important she is to him. He explains that he searched high and low for the perfect word to express his feelings, including consulting various dictionaries, but it was the wise person who told him that the best word to describe her is simply "person" - highlighting the idea that words cannot fully capture the complexity and beauty of a person.
The repetition of the word "negrona" throughout the song reinforces the idea that it is a term of endearment and is not being used to insult or degrade the person being addressed. The lyrics also suggest that the singer's love is unconditional, as he explains that he will always address her as "negrona" no matter what. The use of the word "vida" or life, also suggests that the person being addressed is central to the singer's existence, and that their love for each other is an integral part of their lives.
Overall, the lyrics to "Negrona" are a beautiful tribute to a special person and the power of love. They also highlight the limitations of language when it comes to expressing deep emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Negrona, cuando te digo negrona,
My love, when I call you Negrona,
Quiero decirte mi vida, quiero decirte carino.
I want to express my life and affection for you.
Negrona, en la palabra que nace,
Negrona, a name that describes you,
Como resume de todo lo que te quiero decir.
A summary of everything I want to say.
Los mejores diccionarios, que existen en cada idioma.
I searched every language's finest dictionaries.
Yo lo busque noche y dia, desde el principio hasta final.
I searched constantly, from start to finish.
Y el mas' sabio de los sabios,
The wisest of the wise,
Fue quien me dijo persona, a esa nena sin corona.
Told me to see the person beyond just a name.
Vale mas', decirte asi' Y poreso, para decirte mi vida.
It's worth more to call you Negrona, to express my life.
Para decirte carino.
To express my affection.
Siempre te digo negrona, siempre te digo negrona.
I'll always call you Negrona, always and forever.
Writer(s): Tite Curet
Contributed by Sebastian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.