Lopez made his name on the club circuit of the Southwestern United States before being 'discovered' in 1962 playing at the club PJ's in Hollywood, California, by record producer Don Costa. Costa was taken with Lopez's latinized versions of contemporary hits and signed him up to Frank Sinatra's record label, Reprise Records. His debut album, Trini Lopez Live at PJ's, was released in 1963. The album included a version of If I Had a Hammer, which reached number one in 36 countries (No. 3 in the United States) and was a radio favorite for many years. He also performed his own version of the traditional Mexican song La Bamba on the album; his recording of the tune was later re-issued as a single in 1966.
His popularity led the Gibson Guitar Corporation to ask him in 1964 to design a guitar for them. He ended up designing two: The Trini Lopez Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe, a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel. Both of these guitars were in production from 1964 until 1971 and are now highly sought after amongst collectors. Some owners of the guitar include Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.
He scored 13 chart singles through 1968, including "Lemon Tree" (1965), "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (1966) and "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" (1968). On the adult contemporary chart, he ranked up 15 hits, including the Top 10 singles "Michael" (1964), "Gonna Get Along Without Ya' Now" (1967) and "The Bramble Bush" (1967). Beyond his success on record, he became one of the country's top nightclub performers of that era, regularly headlining in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During the 1960s and 1970s Lopez moved into acting, though his film career was not as successful as his music. His first film role was in Marriage on the Rocks (1965), in which he made a cameo appearance in a nightclub scene; Lopez's soundtrack song, "Sinner Man", became a hit single (No. 54 pop/No. 12 adult contemporary). He was one of The Dirty Dozen (1967) and starred in Antonio (1973). He made two appearances (playing different characters) on the television program, Adam 12. He continued his musical career with extensive tours of Europe and Latin America during this period; an attempt to break out by releasing a disco album in 1978 proved a flop.
Since then, Lopez has done charitable work and received honors such as being inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003. He was still recording and appearing live in the early 2000s. Recently he took part in a benefit concert to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
La Bamba
Trini Lopez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Para bailar, bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita
Y arriba y arriba
Arriba y arriba y arriba iré
Por ti seré, por ti seré
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Yo no soy marinero, no
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán
Soy capitán, soy capitán
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba (Bamba, bamba)
Bamba, bamba (Bamba, bamba)
(Bamba, bamba)
Let me hear everybody now
Ah
Ah
Ah
Ah
Ah
Para bailar, bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Y otra cosita, no
Bamba, bambaBamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, one more time
Para bailar, bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita
Y arriba y arriba
Arriba y arriba y arriba iré
Por ti seré, por ti seré (Everybody now)
Bamba, bamba (Altogether)
Bamba, bamba (One more time)
Bamba, bamba
Bamba
Trini Lopez’s “La Bamba” is a classic Mexican folk song that has been adopted and adapted by numerous musicians throughout the world. The song speaks about the dance known as “La Bamba,” which originated in Veracruz, a city located in the east of Mexico. The lyrics reveal that in order to dance the “La Bamba,” one requires a bit of grace and something else, perhaps rhythm or a particular sense of style, to really excel at the dance. The repetition of the lyrics ‘Bamba, bamba’ resemble sounds of chanting, evocative of the song's origins as a pagan ritual dance. The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, inviting the listener to join in on the celebratory chanting.
In the second verse, Lopez makes it clear that he is not a sailor, but a captain, a metaphor for his leadership and expertise in performing La Bamba. The repetition of the phrase ‘Bamba, Bamba’ in this verse indicates his mastery of the dance and his willingness to help others achieve the same level of expertise.
Overall, the song captures the excitement and joy of dancing the “La Bamba,” an important part of traditional Mexican culture, and invites listeners to join in the celebration. The repetition of the chorus, simple lyrics, and catchy melody make “La Bamba” a popular and enduring song, enjoyed by people from all over the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Para bailar la bamba
In order to dance La Bamba
Para bailar, bailar la bamba
To dance, dance La Bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
One needs a little grace
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita
A little grace and something else
Y arriba y arriba
And up and up
Arriba y arriba y arriba iré
Up and up I'll go
Por ti seré, por ti seré
I'll be for you, I'll be for you
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Yo no soy marinero, no
I'm not a sailor, no
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán
I'm not a sailor, I'm a captain
Soy capitán, soy capitán
I'm a captain, I'm a captain
Let me hear everybody now
Let me hear everyone now
Ah
Ah
Para bailar, bailar la bamba
To dance, dance La Bamba
Y otra cosita, no
And something else, no
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba (Bamba, bamba)
Bamba, bamba (Bamba, bamba)
Bamba, bamba (Bamba, bamba)
Bamba, bamba (Bamba, bamba)
(Bamba, bamba)
(Bamba, bamba)
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Para bailar, bailar la bamba
To dance, dance La Bamba
Y arriba y arriba
And up and up
Arriba y arriba y arriba iré
Up and up I'll go
Por ti seré, por ti seré (Everybody now)
I'll be for you, I'll be for you (Everybody now)
Bamba, bamba (Altogether)
Bamba, bamba (Altogether)
Bamba, bamba (One more time)
Bamba, bamba (One more time)
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Mute Song Limited, Capitol CMG Publishing, ACUM Ltd., Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Traditional, Trini Lopez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OFFICIAL_WWFTV
I don’t speak any foreign language other than where I’m from. (UK 🇬🇧) and this is the only foreign language I can speak and I don’t EVEN know what the lyrics even say but I still know the words (IN THIS LANGUAGE AS THEY SING 🎤)
Guaranteed to hear this in Tenerife in an all inclusive hotel 🏨 with the entertainment team 😂😂😂😂
For us English speaking folks that have adored this song all our lives without EVEN knowing what we’re singing 🎧 🎵
This is the translated version of this song: The Bamba!
To dance the Bamba,
to dance the Bamba,
one needs a bit of grace.
A bit of grace for me, for you,
4
now come on, come on,
now come on, come on,
for you I'll be, for you I'll be, for you I'll be.
I'm not a sailor,
I'm not a sailor, I'm a captain.
I'm a captain, I'm a captain.
Bamba, bamba,
bamba, bamba,
bamba, bamba, bam...
To dance the Bamba,
to dance the Bamba,
one needs a bit of grace.
A bit of grace for me, for you,
now come on, come on.
Rrrraa-ha-haa...
To dance the Bamba,
to dance the Bamba,
one needs a bit of grace.
A bit of grace for me, for you,
now come on, come on,
now come on, come on,
for you I'll be, for you I'll be, for you I'll be.
Bamba, bamba,
bamba, bamba,
bamba, bamba...
@saleemahfareed4790
I didn’t know Trini Lopez died in 2020 rest in peace 💙🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
@sergepirault2412
Il avait fait un véritable triomphe à l’Olympia en 63, son style rock latino était très dansant ,vraiment un super tube ce titre !!
@RonWallach
He❤ was 1 of out of a million.
@SQ773
Rest in peace Senior Lopez🙏 Thank you for these unforgetable songs in my childhood. Just heard the news in the Netherlands 🇳🇱. I was 4 when "If i had a Hammer" when it was for months on the radio,and my dad was singing that song all the time. Thatswhy i remember it so good. My dad passed away 2 years ago,so the memories are here now. I am 61 now and i'm crying. The memories again...
@1computernew
RIP Mr. Lopez. Even though I am a Black American I really enjoyed your music and watching you perform on TV during the 60s.
@swaruppriyadarshi2299
We were the teenagers in the mid sixties and his songs lifted our spirits to great heights!!
@MeryToste
A sad day for music, the Unforgettable Brilliant Singer, Actor and Composer, died today at the age of 83 years old TRINI LOPEZ. . R. I. P My Eternal Idol.. Forever In My❤️
@Ney-gh5rp
fez muito sucesso aqui no Brasil.
@cerph
From complications of COVID-19
@daisy317mi
Forever in our hearts. .Eternal Rest Grant him merciful sweet Jesus