Babarabatiri
Tito Puente & Celia Cruz Lyrics


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Watching her
Strolling in the night, so white
Wondering why it's only after dark
In her eyes
A distant fire light burns bright
Wondering why it's only after dark
I find myself in her room
Feel the fever of my doom
Falling, falling through the floor
I'm knocking on the Devil's door, yeah
In the dawn
I wake up to find her gone
And a note says, 'Only after dark'
Burning, burning in the flame

Now I know her secret name
You can tear her temple down
But she'll be back and rule again
In my heart
The deep and dark and lonely part




Wants her and waits for after dark
After dark, after dark, after dark

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tito Puente's song Babarabatiri convey the story of an obsessive love that is only satisfied through meeting in the night. The singer of the song is watching his lover as she walks in the night, and wonders why it is only during those hours that they can be together. He sees a distance fire light burning bright in her eyes, which signifies the passion and intensity of their love. The singer describes feeling as if he is falling through the floor and knocking on the Devil's door, as if the intensity of his love is leading him into forbidden territories.


However, the singer is left alone in the dawn, with his lover gone and only a note left saying "Only after dark." He is left burning in the flame of their love and now knows her secret name, which adds to the allure and mystery of their relationship. Even though her temple may be torn down, the singer knows that she will rule again. In his heart, he harbors a deep and lonely part that wants her and waits for after dark, emphasizing the desperation and longing in their relationship. Overall, the song is a powerful depiction of the intensity and passion of a love that can only be consummated in secrecy.


Line by Line Meaning

Watching her
Observing her as she walks around.


Strolling in the night, so white
Strolling around in the white, bright night.


Wondering why it's only after dark
Pondering why everything happens only after dark.


In her eyes
Having a glimpse into her eyes.


A distant fire light burns bright
Seeing a remote light that brightly shines.


Wondering why it's only after dark
Wondering why everything is happening only after nightfall.


I find myself in her room
Discovering oneself in her room.


Feel the fever of my doom
Experiencing the dangerous excitement of my fateful destiny.


Falling, falling through the floor
Descending down through the floor as if it was sinking.


I'm knocking on the Devil's door, yeah
Suddenly confronting and facing the Devil himself.


In the dawn
As the sunlight casts its first rays.


I wake up to find her gone
Waking up and realizing that she is already gone.


And a note says, 'Only after dark'
Finding a letter that implies that she only comes out at night.


Burning, burning in the flame
Burning with passion and desire for her.


Now I know her secret name
Having found out her secret name.


You can tear her temple down
It is possible to destroy her temple.


But she'll be back and rule again
But she will return and take charge again.


In my heart
Deep within my very soul.


The deep and dark and lonely part
The gloomy and lonesome section of my spirit.


Wants her and waits for after dark
Longs for and patiently anticipates her arrival after sunset.


After dark, after dark, after dark
Repeated association and emphasis on everything happening only after nighttime.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Oliveras1943

From my childhood in spanish harlem in the early 50’s
Rene oliveras
05-30-2023
New jersey

@steveegallo3384

BRAVO! See NYTimes today, "10 Tito Puente Essentials for the Mambo King’s Centennial"......BRAVO from Acapulco!

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