She was born in Chipiona, Cádiz, Spain and was nicknamed "The Greatest".
Jurado began performing flamenco at a very young age, debuting on the big screen in 1962 with "Los guerrilleros", acting alongside Manolo Escobar. She also played a main role in 1966's "Proceso a una estrella" and 1971's "Una chica casi decente". While temporarily living in Argentina, the Spanish diva participated in a successful musical called "La zapatera prodigiosa", based on Federico García Lorca's work. After teaming with composer Manuel Alejandro, Rocío Jurado became a major and beloved figure on the Latin music scene, acclaimed throughout America and Spain after releasing "Muera el amor" and "Señora", among other hits.
You can read more about Rocío Jurado in Wikipedia.
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article in English Wikipedia
No cierres los ojos niño
Rocio Jurado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No cierres los ojos niño,
Que a mi me da mucha pena,
Cantarte y que no me oigas,
Mirarte y que no me veas.
No cierres los ojos niño,
Que la noche está de estrellas
Y luceritos de canela.
Te voy a contar un cuento,
Un cuento pa′ que no duermas
De lobos con dientes largos
Y brujas que no son buenas.
Yo quiero que este despierto,
Yo quiero que no te duermas,
Yo quiero que tu me grite
Y rompas la cuna nueva.
Que verte dormir es triste
Que a mi me da mucho miedo
Que a ti se te ponga
Toíto tan negros.
Te voy a contar un cuento
Un cuento pa' que no duermas.
ESTRIBILLO:
Yo quiero que tu me cantes,
Yo quiero que tu me duermas
Pa′ que ilumines mis sueños
Con tus ojitos de fresa.
Yo quiero que estes despierto,
Yo quiero que no te duermas,
Yo quiero que me llores
Que corras y tires piedras.
Que verte dormir es triste,
Que a mi me da mucho miedo
Que a ti se te pongan
Tus ojitos tan negro.
Yo quiero que tu me cantes
Yo quiero que tu me duermas
"No cierres los ojos niño" is a heartfelt song by Rocio Jurado that speaks to the desire of a parent or caregiver to keep a child awake and attentive, rather than letting them sleep. The singer expresses their sadness and reluctance to sing to the child, as they fear not being heard, and to look at the child, as they fear not being seen. The lyrics emphasize the beauty of the nighttime, with its starry skies adorned with a chocolate moon and cinnamon-colored little stars.
The singer then promises to tell the child a story, a story that will keep them awake so they don't fall asleep. The story contains dangerous elements such as wolves with long teeth and wicked witches, emphasizing the singer's desire for the child to stay awake and be alert. The singer wants the child to cry and break their new cradle, expressing a desire for the child to resist sleep and show signs of vitality, rather than succumbing to slumber.
The chorus repeats the plea for the child to keep their eyes open, reinforcing the singer's desire for the child to remain awake and engaged. The desire for the child's presence and attention is evident throughout the song, with the singer expressing that seeing the child asleep is sad and fearful, and hoping that the child's eyes don't turn completely black. The singer wants the child to sing to them, and to lull them to sleep, so that their dreams are illuminated by the child's strawberry-colored eyes. The final lines restate the singer's desire for the child to be awake and attentive, to sing and lull them to sleep.
Overall, the lyrics convey a mix of tenderness, sadness, and a longing for connection and presence. The singer wants the child to remain awake, emphasizing their fear of the child's absence and sleep.
Line by Line Meaning
No cierres los ojos niño,
Don't close your eyes, child,
Que a mi me da mucha pena,
It makes me very sad,
Cantarte y que no me oigas,
To sing to you and you not hear me,
Mirarte y que no me veas.
To look at you and you not see me.
Que la noche está de estrellas
The night is full of stars
Con luna de chocolate
With a chocolate moon
Y luceritos de canela.
And little cinnamon stars.
Te voy a contar un cuento,
I'm going to tell you a story,
Un cuento pa′ que no duermas
A story so you don't sleep
De lobos con dientes largos
About wolves with long teeth
Y brujas que no son buenas.
And witches that are not good.
Yo quiero que este despierto,
I want you to stay awake,
Yo quiero que no te duermas,
I want you not to fall asleep,
Yo quiero que tu me grite
I want you to scream at me,
Y rompas la cuna nueva.
And break the new crib.
Que verte dormir es triste
Because seeing you sleep is sad,
Que a mi me da mucho miedo
It scares me a lot
Que a ti se te ponga
That your eyes turn
Toíto tan negros.
Completely black.
Yo quiero que tu me cantes
I want you to sing to me
Yo quiero que tu me duermas
I want you to make me fall asleep
Pa′ que ilumines mis sueños
So you can brighten my dreams
Con tus ojitos de fresa.
With your little strawberry eyes.
Yo quiero que estes despierto,
I want you to stay awake,
Yo quiero que no te duermas,
I want you not to fall asleep,
Yo quiero que me llores
I want you to cry for me,
Que corras y tires piedras.
To run and throw stones.
Que a ti se te pongan
That your eyes turn
Tus ojitos tan negro.
So your little eyes go black.
Yo quiero que tu me cantes
I want you to sing to me
Yo quiero que tu me duermas
I want you to make me fall asleep
Writer(s): Manuel Alvarez Beigbeder Perez, Purificacion Casas Romero
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.