Blades's father is a percussionist-turned-detective and his mother was a singer and radio performer. His grandfather, Reuben Blades, was an English-speaking native of St. Lucia who came to work on the canal, as he tells in the song West Indian Man on the album Amor y Control ("That's where the Blades comes from.") (1992)
After obtaining degrees in political science and law at Panama's Universidad Nacional, Blades worked at the Bank of Panama as a lawyer. In 1974, Blades moved to the United States, staying temporarily with his exiled parents in Miami before moving to New York City. Blades began his musical career in New York writing songs while working in the mailroom at Fania Records, and soon was working with salseros Ray Barretto and Larry Harlow. Shortly thereafter Blades started collaborating with trombonist and band leader Willie Colón, and they recorded several albums together. Their album Siembra (1978) became the best-selling salsa record in history.
After 1980, Blades tried to terminate his contract with Fania, but he was contractually obliged to record several more albums. These are generally considered toss-offs and Blades himself told his fans to avoid them. When he was free of his contractual obligations, Blades signed with another label, Elektra, and assembled a top-notch band (known variously as Seis Del Solar or Son Del Solar) and recorded a number of albums with them.
In the early 1980s, Blades began his career in films as a composer of soundtracks.
In 1982, Blades got his first acting role in The Last Fight writing the title song as well as portraying a singer-turned-boxer vying for a championship against a fighter who was played by real life world champion boxer Salvador Sánchez.
In 1985, Blades gained widespread recognition as co-writer and star of the independent film Crossover Dreams as a New York salsa singer willing to do anything to break into the mainstream. This same year he earned a master's degree in international law from Harvard University. He was also the subject of Robert Mugge's documentary The Return of Ruben Blades, which debuted at that year's Denver Film Festival. During the 1990s, he acted in films, mounted his unsuccessful presidential bid, founding the party Movimiento Papa Egoró, and continued to make salsa records.
His many film appearances include The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), The Two Jakes (1990), Mo' Better Blues (1990), and Devil's Own (1997). In 1999, he played Mexican artist Diego Rivera in Tim Robbins' Cradle Will Rock.
In 1997, Blades headed the cast of singer/songwriter Paul Simon's first Broadway musical, The Capeman, based on a true story about a violent youth who becomes a poet in prison. In the 2003 film Once Upon a Time in Mexico, starring Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas, and Willem Dafoe, he played the role of a retired FBI agent.
Blades' 1999 album Tiempos which he made with the 12-piece Costa Rican band Editus, represented a break from his salsa past and a rejection of commercial trends in Latin music.
Some might say that "his biggest mistake was releasing an English-language album in 1988 in the wake of his 1987 Grammy for Escenas" [sic] but in fact, he tends to avoid commercial choices. After winning his first Grammy for Escenas in 1986 he recorded the album Agua de Luna based on the short stories of Gabriel Garcia Marquez in 1987. The next year he released the English language collaboration with rock artists Sting, Elvis Costello, and Lou Reed the same year as Antecedente, another Grammy winner. In 2003 he followed the World Music Grammy winner Mundo with a web site free download project. As he said in 2005 when receiving the ASCAP Founders Award about his non-commercial choices, "That's the way I think."
In 2004 he put his artistic careers on hold when he began serving as Minister of Tourism of Panama.
Source: Wikipedia®
Parao
Rubén Blades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y construye un nuevo túnel, pa' no ver
Y se queda entre lo oscuro, y se consume
Lamentando lo que nunca llegó a ser
Yo no fui el mejor ejemplo y te lo admito
Fácil es juzgar la noche al otro día
Pero fui sincero, y eso sí lo grito
Si yo he vivido parao
Ay que me entierren parao
¡Si pagué el precio que paga
El que no vive arrodillao!
La vida me ha restregao
Pero jamás me ha planchao
¡En la buena y en la mala
Voy con los dientes pelaos!
¡Sonriendo y de pie, siempre parao!
Las desgracias hacen fuerte al sentimiento
Si asimila cada golpe que ha aguantao
La memoria se convierte en un sustento
Celebrando cada río que se ha cruzao
Me pregunto, cómo puede creerse vivo
¿El que existe pa' culpar a los demás?
Que se calle y que se salga del camino
¡Y que deje al resto del mundo caminar!
A mí me entierran parao
¡Ay, que me entierren parao!
Ahí te dejo mi sonrisa
Y todo lo que me han quitao
Lo que perdí no he llorao
Si yo he vivido sobrao
Dando gracias por las cosas
Que en la ruta me he encontrao
Sumo y resto en carne propia
De mi conciencia abrazao
¡Parao! aunque me haya equivocao
Aunque me hayan señalao
Parao! en agua de luna mojao
Disfrutando la memoria
De los ríos que he cruzao
Aunque casi me haya ahogao
Sigo ¡parao! ¡parao!
In Ruben Blades's song Parao, the singer expresses his resilience and determination to stay strong despite the hardships he has faced. He reflects on those who have given up and chosen to stay in the darkness, not willing to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The singer acknowledges that he may not have been the best example in the past, but he has always been sincere and never compromised his principles. He proudly declares that he has never sold out or given up, even when faced with adversity. He has paid the price for living life on his own terms and will continue to stand tall.
The lyrics also emphasize the importance of learning from one's struggles and celebrating the moments of triumph. The singer encourages others to do the same and not be defined by their misfortunes. He questions the purpose of those who blame others for their own problems and urges them to move aside and let the rest of the world continue on their path. The repeated refrain of "Parao" serves as a powerful message of standing firm and not giving up, even when faced with challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Hay quien ve la luz al final de su tunel
Some people see hope when facing difficult situations, but they choose to avoid it and stay in the darkness of their own tunnel.
Y construye un nuevo tunel, pa' no ver
They build a new tunnel to avoid facing their problems and refuse to see the light.
Y se queda entre lo oscuro, y se consume
They remain stuck in the darkness, and their negativity takes over, consuming them.
Lamentando lo que nunca llegó a ser
They regret what could have been if they had taken the opportunity to face their problems.
Yo no fui el mejor ejemplo y te lo admito
The artist acknowledges that he has not always been a good role model.
Fácil es juzgar la noche al otro día
It is easy to criticize something after it has already happened.
Pero fui sincero, y éso sí lo grito
But the singer believes he has always been honest with himself.
Que yo nunca he hipotecado al alma mía!
The artist asserts that he has never compromised his soul and stayed true to his beliefs.
Si yo he vivido parao, ay que me entierren parao
If the artist has to die, he wants to do so standing, proud of his life.
Si pagué el precio que paga el que no vive arrodillao!
The artist believes he has paid the price for refusing to surrender and stay on his knees.
La vida me ha restregao, pero jamás me ha planchao
Life has been tough on the singer, but he never gave up.
En la buena y en la mala, voy con los dientes pelaos!
The artist is always ready for a fight, regardless of the situation.
Sonriendo y de pie: siempre parao!
The singer remains standing with a smile on his face, always proud of who he is and what he has done.
Las desgracias hacen fuerte al sentimiento
Suffering makes emotions stronger.
Si asimila cada golpe que ha aguantao
If one learns from the blows they have endured.
La memoria se convierte en un sustento
One can use memories of past struggles as a source of strength and motivation.
Celebrando cada rio que se ha cruzao
Instead of dwelling on past sufferings, one should celebrate the rivers they have crossed and the obstacles they have overcome.
Me pregunto, cómo puede creerse vivo
The singer wonders how one can consider themselves alive if they only blame others for their problems.
El que existe pa' culpar a los demás?
The singer believes that blaming others leads to a stagnant, unfulfilling existence.
Que se calle y que se salga del camino
The artist suggests that people who refuse to take responsibility for their problems should step aside and let others move forward.
Y que deje al resto del mundo caminar!
They should not hold others back in their own journey.
Ahí te dejo mi sonrisa y todo lo que me han quitao
The artist gives away everything he has lost in his journey, including his smile, to show others that they can still move forward despite setbacks.
Lo que perdí no he llorao, si yo he vivido sobrao
Despite the losses, the singer has never cried and knows he has had a fulfilling life.
Dando gracias por las cosas
The artist is grateful for everything he has experienced.
Que en la ruta me he encontrao
He is grateful for everything he has learned on his journey.
Sumo y resto en carne propia
He has experienced both ups and downs, all of which have made him stronger.
De mi conciencia abrazao
He has always remained true to his conscience and beliefs.
Parao! aunque me haya equivocao
The artist remains standing, despite any mistakes he may have made.
Aunque me hayan señalao
He has been criticized by others.
Parao! en agua de luna mojao
He has been through difficult situations, but he remains standing, like a tree in the rain.
Disfrutando la memoria de los rios que he cruzao
He cherishes the memories of the rivers he has crossed on his journey.
Aunque casi me haya ahogao, sigo parao!
Despite almost drowning, he continues to stand and move forward.
Parao!
The artist stands tall and proud of his journey, no matter what lies ahead.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ruben Blades
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@felipedej.cervera6514
A mí me quiebra toda la canción, pero los versos al final - el breve poema - son absolutamente demoledores. Entonces ya no contengo las lágrimas. Toca lo profundo de la infancia de muchos. De la mía, obviamente que sí.
"Tiempo
Llévame de vuelta
A los días cuando corría con mi perro
A la tienda del Chino
A comprar diez centavos de pan
Y cinco de queso blanco;
Devuélveme las tardes
Cuando la mano de mi abuela
Me llevaba hasta el final de la calle trece
Oeste, en Santana
A ver el Mar del Sur;
Regrésame las noches
Cuando el aroma a jazmín,
Sembrado en latas,
Se derramaba desde los balcones
Por todas las calles de San Felipe”.
@yarisguzman408
Hay quien ve la luz al final de su tunel
Y construye un nuevo tunel, pa´ no ver,
Y se queda entre lo oscuro, y se consume,
Lamentando lo que nunca llegó a ser.
Yo no fui el mejor ejemplo y te lo admito,
Fácil es juzgar la noche al otro día;
Pero fui sincero, y éso sí lo grito,
Que yo nunca he hipotecado al alma mía!
Si yo he vivido parao, ay que me entierren parao;
Si pagué el precio que paga el que no vive arrodillao!
La vida me ha restregao, pero jamás me ha planchao.
En la buena y en la mala, voy con los dientes pelaos!
Sonriendo y de pie: siempre parao!
Las desgracias hacen fuerte al sentimiento
Si asimila cada golpe que ha aguantao.
La memoria se convierte en un sustento,
Celebrando cada rio que se ha cruzao.
Me pregunto, cómo puede creerse vivo,
El que existe pa´ culpar a los demás?
Que se calle y que se salga del camino,
Y que deje al resto del mundo caminar!
A mí me entierran parao.
Ay, que me entierren parao!
Ahí te dejo mi sonrisa y todo lo que me han quitao.
Lo que perdí no he llorao, si yo he vivido sobrao,
Dando gracias por las cosas
Que en la ruta me he encontrao.
Sumo y resto en carne propia,
De mi conciencia abrazao.
Parao! aunque me haya equivocao,
Aunque me hayan señalao,
Parao! en agua de luna mojao,
Disfrutando la memoria de los rios que he cruzao,
Aunque casi me haya ahogao, sigo parao!
Parao!
@pajoafonso3490
Parao
Ruben Blades
Hay quien ve la luz al final de su tunel
Y construye un nuevo tunel, pa´ no ver,
Y se queda entre lo oscuro, y se consume,
Lamentando lo que nunca llegó a ser.
Yo no fui el mejor ejemplo y te lo admito,
Fácil es juzgar la noche al otro día;
Pero fui sincero, y éso sí lo grito,
Que yo nunca he hipotecado al alma mía!
Si yo he vivido parao, ay que me entierren parao;
Si pagué el precio que paga el que no vive arrodillao!
La vida me ha restregao, pero jamás me ha planchao.
En la buena y en la mala, voy con los dientes pelaos!
Sonriendo y de pie: siempre parao!
Las desgracias hacen fuerte al sentimiento
Si asimila cada golpe que ha aguantao.
La memoria se convierte en un sustento,
Celebrando cada rio que se ha cruzao.
Me pregunto, cómo puede creerse vivo,
El que existe pa´ culpar a los demás?
Que se calle y que se salga del camino,
Y que deje al resto del mundo caminar!
A mí me entierran parao.
Ay, que me entierren parao!
Ahí te dejo mi sonrisa y todo lo que me han quitao.
Lo que perdí no he llorao, si yo he vivido sobrao,
Dando gracias por las cosas
Que en la ruta me he encontrao.
Sumo y resto en carne propia,
De mi conciencia abrazao.
Parao! aunque me haya equivocao,
Aunque me hayan señalao,
Parao! en agua de luna mojao,
Disfrutando la memoria de los rios que he cruzao,
Aunque casi me haya ahogao, sigo parao!
Parao!
@lorena1319
Por Dios ,Me la dedico con todo el amor que hoy me tengo. Gracias Rubén...
@jorgeenrique5473
Sebastián y esta canción siempre me ponen a chillar. Pero esta, en especial, la quiero como epitafio.
@Mile12061
Alguien un día me dijo que escuchara esta canción y me quede enamorada de su mensaje, que grande es Rubén Baldes
@antoniojosegarcia9896
Nunca tuvo interés en escuchar a Ruben Blades. La situacion de Venezuela, me hizo convertir este tema en el himno de mi interioridad. Invito a mi pais PARAO
@RaulJansen24
Con todo respeto.....su primera afirmación es casi una herejía!!!! Cuales son los tips del Sr. Blades? Una personalidad vertical, una limpia trayectoria, el cariño y el sincero respeto de su pueblo, una trabajada reputación que guarda rigurosa proporción entre....... su verbo y su actuación como personalidad pública!!! Con apenas 26 años (1.974) llega a Estados Unidos con un título de Abogado bajo el brazo - tras la búsqueda de sus sueños -....nada le regalaron, lo forjó todo con talento, disciplina y trabajo!!!! En 1.976 le dió a Ismael Miranda una canción que escribió (Cipriano Armenteros) y..... en 1.978 se le pidió otra canción suya porque Héctor Lavoe atravesaba por un bache ....grabó entonces El Cantante".......en lo sucesivo su tarjeta de presentación. Esta bellisima canción PARAO es parte de su etapa experimental..... de 2.002, del C.D "Mundo"......y es que, desde inicio de los 70's y después de su debut con Willie Colón en "Metiendo Mano"(1.977)......Ruben Blades ha comulgado con el brillante ejemplo!!!!! En tiempos tan oscuros y bizarros de nuestra Venezuela .....le recomiendo la bellisima pieza PATRIA (L.p Antecedente 1.988).......lo demás es historia!!!!!!
@danielruizdr
Nunca es tarde cuando la dicha es buena. Bienvenido al club, Antonio. Siga explorando la discografía de este señor, porque hay demasiado buen material. Esta canción es una de mis favoritas de Rubén (y ojo, que hay muchas más). Saludos!
@fernandofalconv
Esa canción retrata de cuerpo entero a mi Padre(QEPD)
@carlosmaldonado3955
Igual a mi puedo recordar sus gestos mientras la cantaba con todas las ganas ! 😏
@belisarioorozco9842
esa es mi vida gracias por componerme,mi canción Ruben blades.es para llorar de felicidad.siempre firme y oarao,chingao .
@tiningo
me pido esta canción para el día que me toque a mi ser el protagonista de un funeral!!!!. A mi que me entierren "parao" ...., ¡sí señor! ¡Que bonito resumen de una vida firme! Eo sí, espero que tarde un poco. Todavía me quedan muchos ríos que cruzar y aguarde luna gozar.