On 16 July 1929 debuted at the "El Retiro" and doing cabaret season at the site, where it was known as "la Peregrino", the Don Emilio Azcarraga Vidaurreta knew who was, along with Enrique Contel, who named her Tona la Negra . Began to be recognized in its interpretation of the song "Enamorada" by Agustin Lara, who also produced for her songs like "Lamento Jarocho", "Veracruz", "Noche Criolla ", "Oración Caribe", "Palmera", "La clave azul "and " La Cumbancha "which appeared together in a music magazine in the Teatro Esperanza in December 1932, with such success that should extend their presentations for a long time.
She also sang for Cuban legends La Sonora Matancera. The alley where she was born in the old barrio of "La Huaca" in the city of Veracruz, México, carries her name. After her death the municipality of Veracruz has erected a statue of Toña la Negra within sight of the old church of Cristo del Buen Viaje (1609) bordering on the La Huaca barrio.
The German film director Christian Baudissin made a documentary about Toña la Negra for television in 1993 with interviews with her ex-husband the musician "Vittillo" Victor Ruiz Pazos and others who knew her.
Arrancame La Vida
Toña la negra Lyrics
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llegan hasta el cuarto mío las quejas del arrabal
en estas noches de frío, de duro cierzo invernal
llegan hasta el cuarto mío las quejas del arrabal
Arrancala y toma, toma mi corazón, arrancame la vida
y si acaso te hiere el dolor, ha de ser de no verme porque al fin tus ojos me los llevo yo
la canción que pedías, te la vengo a cantar
la llevaba en el alma, la llevaba escondiday te la voy a dar
Arrancame la vida, con el último beso de amor
Arrancal y toma, toma mi corazón, arrancame la vida y si acaso te hiere el dolor ha de ser de no verme porque al fin tus ojos, me los llevo yo...
The lyrics of Toña la Negra's song Arráncame la Vida depict a person in the mids of winter, lonely and troubled, as the cold winds of the season howl outside. The voice in the song hears the complaints and sorrows of the arrabal, or the outskirts of the city, and feels the weight of the world upon their shoulders. The lyrics then beg for the singer's life to be taken with a final kiss from their loved one, before continuing on to ask them to take their heart, their life, by ripping it from their chest. The person in the song acknowledges their own pain and the pain that will result from this decision - the pain of separation - but ultimately desires to leave the world with the person that they love, reminding them that even in death, they will be forever together.
Line by Line Meaning
en estas noches de frío, de duro cierzo invernal
During these cold, harsh winter nights
llegan hasta el cuarto mío las quejas del arrabal
I hear the complaints of the downtrodden neighborhood in my room
Arrancame la vida, con el último beso de amo
Take my life with your last kiss
Arrancala y toma, toma mi corazón, arrancame la vida
Take my heart and my life with it
y si acaso te hiere el dolor, ha de ser de no verme porque al fin tus ojos me los llevo yo
If you feel any pain, it must be from not seeing me because I will take your eyes with me
la canción que pedías, te la vengo a cantar
I've come to sing you the song you asked for
la llevaba en el alma, la llevaba escondida y te la voy a dar
I carried it deep in my soul, hidden away, and now I will give it to you
Arrancame la vida, con el último beso de amor
Take my life with your last kiss of love
Arrancal y toma, toma mi corazón, arrancame la vida y si acaso te hiere el dolor ha de ser de no verme porque al fin tus ojos, me los llevo yo...
Take my heart and my life with it. If you feel any pain, it must be from not seeing me because I will take your eyes with me...
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.