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.
Veracruz
Toña la negra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nací con alma de pirata,
He nacido rumbero y jarocho
Trovador de veras,
Y me fui lejos de Veracruz
Veracruz, rinconcito
Donde hacen su nido
Las olas del mar
De patria que sabe sufrir y cantar
Veracruz, son tus noches
Diluvio de estrellas, plamera y mujer
Veracruz, vibra en mi ser,
Algún día hasta tus playas lejanas
Tendré que volver
In the first few lines of the song, Toña la Negra sings about being born under the silver moon which has a romantic connotation, but it is juxtaposed with her description of having the soul of a pirate, which can be seen as rebellious or even dangerous. She then proudly identifies as a “rumbero” and “jarocho,” both of which refer to someone from the state of Veracruz in Mexico. She also identifies as a “trovador,” which is a type of musician or poet who writes and performs songs that tell stories of life and love.
The next several lines describe Veracruz as a small corner where the waves of the sea make their home. Despite the simplicity of the place, Toña la Negra says that Veracruz is a land of people who know how to suffer and sing. It’s a place with a lot of character and determination. She then describes the beauty of its nights, which are filled with stars, palm trees, and women. Toña la Negra suggests that Veracruz has become a part of her identity that she carries with her wherever she goes.
Towards the end of the song, Toña la Negra expresses that one day she will return to the distant beaches of Veracruz. This could mean that she left Veracruz to pursue her musical ambitions and will one day return, or it could be a metaphor for rediscovering one’s roots.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo nací con la luna de plata
I was born under the silver moon
Nací con alma de pirata
My soul was born pirate-like
He nacido rumbero y jarocho
I was born a rumba and jarocha (Veracruzan) person
Trovador de veras
A true troubadour
Y me fui lejos de Veracruz
And I went far away from Veracruz
Veracruz, rinconcito
Veracruz, a small corner
Donde hacen su nido Las olas del mar
Where the waves of the sea nest
Veracruz, rinconcito
Veracruz, a small corner
De patria que sabe sufrir y cantar
Of the homeland that knows how to suffer and sing
Veracruz, son tus noches Diluvio de estrellas, plamera y mujer
Veracruz, your nights are a deluge of stars, palms and women
Veracruz, vibra en mi ser
Veracruz, vibrates in my being
Algún día hasta tus playas lejanas Tendré que volver
Someday I will have to return to your distant beaches
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Marcio Hilton Fragoso Borges, Milton Silva Campos Do Nascimento
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
javier Apellido
No soy de Veracruz ni de esa época maravillosa de Toña la Negra pero esta canción me hace recordar uno de mis últimos viajes con mi mama al Puerto de Veracruz al anochecer en el café de la Parroquia enfrente del el malecón al ritmo de esta melodía
Cuauhtemoc Guerrero
Cuando yo tenia 18 años conocí por primera vez el mar en Veracruz. Fui en un viaje de escuela. Llegamos al hotel emporio y nos dieron una habitación con vista al mar. Desde ahí me comencé a enamorar de Veracruz. Que lindo es mi país caray.
Maria Mayorga
Soy centroamericana y siempre mi familia canto esa música tan bella ,esa música engrandecio a mexico.era un deleite escucharla y hoy la sigo escuchando, porque será mi música por siempre
Marco Yuri Jiménez
"Veracruz...pedacito de patria que sabe sufrir y cantar... son tus noches diluvio de estrellas, palmera y mujer..." que linda linda canción!
Felipe De leon
Que hermosa voz
Voz que enamora
Mi Veracruz algun dia hasta tus playas lejanas tendre que volver
Jasa Areka
Hay mi veracruz tan bonito hasta Agustín lara se inspiró en ti. No soy de esa bella tierra pero México es lindo donde le toquen . Bella patria , con tanta violencia y a un q los malos quieren ensuciar tu nombre México no se raja y va pa'lante. Q somos mas los buenos mexicanos .
Yamile Walteros
Hermosa cancion gracias por el deleite ,es inolvidable.
Wladimir Sezko
Grande cantora. Bela música de Agustin Lara. Saludos desde Minas Gerais - Brasil
kim Han
La mejor versión de está bella canción hecha poema.
Jorge Cruz
Que hermosa canción