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®
Tiburón
Rubén Blades Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rompe la ola desde el horizonte
Brilla el verde azul del gran Caribe
Con la majestad que el sol inspira
El peje guerrero va pasando
Recorriendo el reino que domina
Pobre del que caiga prisionero
Hoy no habrá perdón para su vida
Es el tiburón que va buscando
Es el tiburón que nunca duerme
Es el tiburón que va asechando
Es el tiburón de mala suerte
Y se traga el sol el horizonte
Y el nervioso mar se va calmando
Se oyen los arrullos de sirena
Embobando al cielo con su canto
Brillan las estrellas en la noche
La nube viajera va flotando
La luna reposa entre el silencio
De ese gran Caribe descansando
Sólo el tiburón sigue despierto
Sólo el tiburón sigue buscando
Sólo el tiburón sigue intranquilo
Sólo el tiburón sigue asechando
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?,
Tiburón Qué buscas en la arena?
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Tiburón, lo tuyo es mar afuera.
Tiburón que buscas en la orilla
Tiburón
Eh Tiburón el canto de sirena
Tiburón que buscas en la orilla?
Tiburón, serpiente marinera
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Tiburón, ay, tú nunca te llenas
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla
Tiburón cuidao con la ballena
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Tiburón, respeta mi bandera
Palo pa' que aprenda que aquí sí hay honor
Pa' que vea que en el Caribe no se duerme el camarón
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Vamo' a darle duro, sin vacilación
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
En la unión está la fuerza y nuestra salvación
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Qué bonita bandera! qué bonita bandera!
Si lo ven que viene palo al tiburón
Si lo tuyo es mar afuera quée buscas aquí so ladrón?
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Hay que dar la cara y darla con valor
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Pa' que no se coma a nuestra hermana El Salvador
Guapea Colón!
Vamo' a darle duro sin vacilación
En la unión esta la fuerza y nuestra salvación
Si lo ven que viene palo al Tiburón
Pónganle un letrero que diga en esta playa sólo se habla español
Si lo ven que viene palo al Tiburón
Si lo ven que viene no se duerman mis hermanos, pongan atención
Si lo ven que viene palo al Tiburón
Palo palo pa palo pa' que aprenda que aquí sí hay honor
Si lo ven que viene palo al Tiburón
Pa' que vea que en el Caribe no se duerme el camarón
Si lo ven que viene palo al tiburón
Pa' que no se coma a nuestra hermana El Salvador
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Y luego a trabajar en la reconstrucción.
The song "Tiburón" by Rubén Blades is a tale about a fearsome shark that roams the Caribbean Sea. The song starts with describing the rough seas and the beauty of the Caribbean as the shark, referred to as the "peje guerrero" or warrior fish, swims with fierce dominance. The lyrics further highlight the shark's relentless nature, never resting and always on the hunt. The following verses describe the peaceful night as the shark remains awake, while the sirens sing their lullaby, and the moon rests. The chorus questions the shark's presence near the shore and reminds it to respect the country's flag. The song ends with a call to unity and bravery, asking people to stand up against any threat that comes their way and the need to rebuild if things go wrong.
The lyrics of the song are a metaphorical representation of the political and social issues faced by Latin American countries at that time. The "Tiburón" or shark is a personification of the powerful oppressors who continue to prey on the weak and take advantage of their vulnerability. The song's message is to stand against oppression and rebuild after the catastrophe. The song aligns with Rubén Blades' activism and social justice advocacy throughout his career.
Line by Line Meaning
Ruge la mar embravecida
The raging sea roars
Rompe la ola desde el horizonte
The wave breaks from the horizon
Brilla el verde azul del gran Caribe
The Caribbean's green-blue shines with the majesty that the sun inspires
Con la majestad que el sol inspira
With the majesty that the sun inspires
El peje guerrero va pasando
The warrior fish is passing
Recorriendo el reino que domina
Traveling through the reign that it dominates
Pobre del que caiga prisionero
Woe to the one who falls prisoner
Hoy no habrá perdón para su vida
Today there will be no pardon for their life
Es el tiburón que va buscando
It's the shark that's searching
Es el tiburón que nunca duerme
It's the shark that never sleeps
Es el tiburón que va asechando
It's the shark that's lurking
Es el tiburón de mala suerte
It's the shark of bad luck
Y se traga el sol el horizonte
And the sun swallows the horizon
Y el nervioso mar se va calmando
And the nervous sea calms down
Se oyen los arrullos de sirena
The cooing of the siren is heard
Embobando al cielo con su canto
Entrancing the sky with its song
Brillan las estrellas en la noche
The stars shine in the night
La nube viajera va flotando
The traveling cloud floats
La luna reposa entre el silencio
The moon rests among the silence
De ese gran Caribe descansando
Resting from the great Caribbean
Sólo el tiburón sigue despierto
Only the shark remains awake
Sólo el tiburón sigue buscando
Only the shark keeps searching
Sólo el tiburón sigue intranquilo
Only the shark remains unsettled
Sólo el tiburón sigue asechando
Only the shark continues to lurk
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Shark, what are you searching for on the shore?
Tiburón Qué buscas en la arena?
Shark, what are you searching for in the sand?
Tiburón, lo tuyo es mar afuera.
Shark, what's yours is out at sea.
Tiburón que buscas en la orilla
Shark, what are you searching for on the shore?
Tiburón el canto de sirena
Shark, the siren's song
Tiburón que buscas en la orilla?
Shark, what are you searching for on the shore?
Tiburón, serpiente marinera
Shark, marine snake
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Shark, what are you searching for on the shore?
Tiburón, ay, tú nunca te llenas
Shark, oh, you're never satisfied
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla
Shark, what are you searching for on the shore?
Tiburón cuidao con la ballena
Shark, beware of the whale
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Shark, what are you searching for on the shore?
Tiburón, respeta mi bandera
Shark, respect my flag
Palo pa' que aprenda que aquí sí hay honor
Stick, so that he learns that there is honor here
Pa' que vea que en el Caribe no se duerme el camarón
So that he sees that in the Caribbean, the shrimp doesn't sleep
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
If they see it coming, stick to the shark
Vamo' a darle duro, sin vacilación
Let's hit it hard, without hesitation
En la unión está la fuerza y nuestra salvación
In unity, there is strength and our salvation
Qué bonita bandera! qué bonita bandera!
What a beautiful flag! What a beautiful flag!
Si lo tuyo es mar afuera quée buscas aquí so ladrón?
If yours is out at sea, what are you doing here, thief?
Hay que dar la cara y darla con valor
We must face it with courage
Pa' que no se coma a nuestra hermana El Salvador
So that it doesn't eat our sister, El Salvador
Guapea Colón!
Dance, Columbus!
Pónganle un letrero que diga en esta playa sólo se habla español
Put up a sign that says 'Only Spanish is spoken on this beach'
Si lo ven que viene no se duerman mis hermanos, pongan atención
If they see it coming, don't fall asleep, my brothers, pay attention
Palo palo pa palo pa' que aprenda que aquí sí hay honor
Stick, stick, so that he learns that there is honor here
Pa' que vea que en el Caribe no se duerme el camarón
So that he sees that in the Caribbean, the shrimp doesn't sleep
Pa' que no se coma a nuestra hermana El Salvador
So that it doesn't eat our sister, El Salvador
Y luego a trabajar en la reconstrucción.
And then to work on the reconstruction.
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@deeguzzy2564
This was eloquently written. I remember my father listening to this and hearing it on the radio when I was a kid and never really understood what the lyrics were about. When I got older I understood them. Powerful song! Crazy they tried to silence him for over 15 years... Hope you don't mind me putting some content to it for those that might have a hard time understanding Spanish.
Shark
The wild ocean roars
The waves romp from the horizon
The green-blue of the great Caribbean shines
With the same majesty as the sun
The warrior fish walks by
Travelling around the kingdom he dominates
I pity whoever is taken as a prisoner
His life will not be spared today
It's the shark who's going looking
It's the shark who never sleeps
It's the shark who keeps hunting
It's the shark who brings bad luck
And the sun swallows the horizon
And the nervous ocean becomes tranquil
And the mermaids haunt the sky
With their lullabies
The stars shine in the night
The sailing moon floats by
The moon sleeps when the great Caribbean
Rests and becomes silent
Only the shark remains awake
Only the shark keeps looking
Only the shark remains restless
Only the shark keeps hunting
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, what are you looking for in the sand?
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, you should be in the high sea
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Hey shark, the mermaid's song
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, sea serpent
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, you are never satisfied
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, beware of the whale
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, respect my flag
Fight the shark, so he can learn that there's honour in this land
So he can see that in the Caribbean the shrimp doesn't sleep
If you see the shark coming, fight him
Let's hit him hard without hesitation
If you see the shark coming, fight him
Our union will be our strength and our only salvation
If you see the shark coming, fight him
What a lovely flag, what a lovely flag
If you see the shark coming, fight him
You belong in the high sea, what are you doing here, thief?
If you see the shark coming, fight him
We have to face him, and face him bravely
If you see the shark coming, fight him
So our sister El Salvador doesn't get eaten
Hit him hard without hesitation
In union there is strength and our salvation
If you see the shark coming, fight him
Put up a sign saying that on this beach only Spanish is spoken
If you see the shark coming, fight him
If you see the shark coming, don't sleep my brothers, pay attention
If you see the shark coming, fight him
Hit hit hit hit hit so he learns that here there is honor
If you see the shark coming, fight him
So he can see that in the Caribbean the shrimp doesn't sleep
If you see the shark coming, fight him
So our sister El Salvador doesn't get eaten
If you see the shark coming, fight him
And then get to work to rebuild
@andresagudelo3824
Rubén blades es un regalo que la vida nos dio a los latinos saludos desde Medellín Colombia
@ederalvarez8171
...y te acordás el regalito q nos dió en el 2013 Conciertazo de gratis en el estadio?..😊🔥🥁🎷🎹
@sthichrounathan6707
Que viva el Gran Caribe Hispano! 🇨🇺🇩🇴🇵🇷🇻🇪🇨🇴🇵🇦🇨🇷🇳🇮🇭🇳🇸🇻🇬🇹🇲🇽
@pumpisopumpiso6518
Siiiii
@etiennegildegibaja9289
Ese es el caribe hispano continental y caribeño
@sthichrounathan6707
@@etiennegildegibaja9289 Dije "Gran Caribe Hispano", tanto isleños como continental.
@etiennegildegibaja9289
@@sthichrounathan6707 asi es los países de acentos más parecidos son Puerto Rico cuba y Republica Dominicana y caribe de Venezuela y colombia y Panama
@hugoprieto521
soy de la mayor de las antillas pero amo a todos mis hermanos caribenos y los demas latinos
@luishoyos6331
Este señor esta en otra dimension en cuanto a la salsa refiere. Desde Colombia gracias te doy Panama, por parir este titan que tantas alegrias me ha dado con sus canciones.
@jannycenteno5638
🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦