Simón Díaz is known worldwide as the author of Caballo Viejo, which appears on the 1980 album Caballo Viejo. It has become one of the most important folk songs in Venezuela and was a massive hit for the Franco-Spanish group the Gipsy Kings, who recorded a version of the song entitled Bamboleo.
http://www.simondiaz.com
Mercedes
Simón Díaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
en las orillas de un rio
mis ojos la estan mirando
pero es de un amigo mio
Yo no quisiera mirarla
pero no tengo la culpa
se parece una esmeralda
que yo le avise a mi amigo
muy dificil me resulta
Alla hay un caiman cebao
que mide mas de una cuadra
con mas cachos que un venao
why mas dientes que veinte babas
Ella inocente de todo
se baña sin percatarse
que cuando llegue al recodo
el caiman puede acercarse
why yo solo en la barranca
why Mercedes sin fijarse
Me voy corriendo a su casa
pa que mi amigo lo sepa
le dare una cantaleta
why le dire lo que pasa
que hay un inmenso peligro
que corre alli su mujer
que se lo dice un amigo
que algo tenemos que hacer
que vaya pronto a salvarla
why de ñapa voy con el
Cuando llegamos al pozo
la mujer no se veia
el caiman patas arriba
dormia de lo mas sabroso
le di el pesame en el acto
why abrazandolo le digo
que eso pasa a cada rato
que son cosas del destino
why que de aqui en adelante
que cuente con un amigo
The lyrics to Simon Diaz's "Mercedes" tell a story of a man who is watching his friend's wife, Mercedes, as she bathes in a river. He tries not to look, but he can't help it as she seems to sparkle like an emerald with the flowers around her. As he watches, he notices a giant caiman in the water that could pose a danger. He runs to his friend's house to warn him, and they both rush to the river to protect Mercedes. Unfortunately, when they arrive, they find that the caiman has already eaten her, leaving the man to console his friend and promise to be there for him in the aftermath of the tragedy.
There are a few different themes present in these lyrics. One of the main themes is temptation – the man tries not to look at Mercedes but can't help himself. There are also themes of danger and tragedy, as the caiman poses a real threat to Mercedes and ultimately takes her life. Finally, there is a theme of friendship and loyalty, as the man rushes to warn his friend and then supports him through his loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Mercedes se esta bañando
Mercedes is taking a bath
en las orillas de un rio
on the banks of a river
mis ojos la estan mirando
I am looking at her
pero es de un amigo mio
but she belongs to my friend
Yo no quisiera mirarla
I don't want to look at her
pero no tengo la culpa
but I can't help it
se parece una esmeralda
she looks like an emerald
con flores de chupa-chupa
with Chupa-chupa flowers
que yo le avise a mi amigo
it's difficult for me to tell my friend
muy dificil me resulta
it's very hard for me
Alla hay un caiman cebao
there's a well-fed caiman over there
que mide mas de una cuadra
that measures more than a block
con mas cachos que un venao
with more horns than a deer
why mas dientes que veinte babas
and more teeth than twenty drools
Ella inocente de todo
She is unaware of everything
se baña sin percatarse
she bathes without realizing
que cuando llegue al recodo
that when she gets to the bend
el caiman puede acercarse
the caiman can come closer
why yo solo en la barranca
and I'm alone on the cliff
why Mercedes sin fijarse
and Mercedes is not paying attention
Me voy corriendo a su casa
I run to her house
pa que mi amigo lo sepa
to let my friend know
le dare una cantaleta
I'll give him a lecture
why le dire lo que pasa
and I'll tell him what's going on
que hay un inmenso peligro
that there's an immense danger
que corre alli su mujer
that his wife is there
que se lo dice un amigo
that a friend tells him
que algo tenemos que hacer
that we have to do something
que vaya pronto a salvarla
that he goes quickly to save her
why de ñapa voy con el
and I'll go with him
Cuando llegamos al pozo
When we arrived at the well
la mujer no se veia
the woman was nowhere to be seen
el caiman patas arriba
the caiman upside down
dormia de lo mas sabroso
was sleeping soundly
le di el pesame en el acto
I gave him my condolences immediately
why abrazandolo le digo
and I hugged him and said
que eso pasa a cada rato
that this happens all the time
que son cosas del destino
that it's fate
why que de aqui en adelante
and that from now on
que cuente con un amigo
he can count on a friend
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sandrabibianazeavargas5353
colombiana, con 28 años de vida en este bello pais.. Don simon dias orgullo de esta patria y de toda america latina!!
@DiosaMikuv2
Que orgullo ser venezolana! Por más éxitos como éste gran maestro...
@ardelmitruthmech
QUE HERMOSA MUSICA VENEZOLANA!!!!!
SALUDOS DESDE ROSARIO ARGENTINA!!!!!!!!
@chuchuxrm
Vamos boca
@thechatper378
aguante boca
@Isauriful
Orgullosa de ser Venezolana... Que hermosa es nuestra música!!! y que viva mi hermoso estado Llanero... Guarico!
@yuldyyidoka404
estas canciones me hacen erizar la piel!!! increíble que recuerdos mas bellos me hacen revivir momentos bellos...
@karlalopez8339
Total
@antoniomendozasantana3813
La musica no tiene fronteras, y ademas este hombre es de lo mejor de todo este mundo ,un gran compositor
@zoresca
💛💙❤️