Cuelebre
Victor Manuel Lyrics

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Dicen que el cuélebre tiene la escama de un pez
Que vive dentro del río que nadie lo ve
La última vez que lo vieron anduvo en el pueblo
En disfraz de gaitero
Iba cargado de espejos que cuando te miras
Lo grande es pequeño
Dicen que el cuélebre tiene la escama de un pez.

Dicen que el cuélebre habla tan solo en inglés
Pero está yendo aprender para hablar del revés
Y no entederse con nadie ni en chino ni en bable
Sobran las palabras
Que las palabras se enredan
Y forman oscuras las buenas ideas
Dicen que el cuélebre habla tan solo en inglés.

Dicen las lenguas que el cuélebre fue un travestí
Pero el repite a la gente me hicieron así
Puedo ladrar como un perro, nadar como un pez
O volar como un cuervo
Me gusta andar los caminos calzando madreñas
Tras de las mujeres
Dicen las lenguas que el cuélebre fue un travestí

Dicen que el cuélebre tiene la piel del revés
Alguien lo vió aparecer arrastrando los pies
Con un sayón colorado, un candil apagado
Que asusta a los nenos
Pero se acercan a él y los mas atrevidos

Pellizcan sus huevos
Dicen qeu el cuélebre tiene la piel del revés

Overall Meaning

In the song "Cuelebre" by Víctor Manuel, there are several references made about the mythical creature "cuélebre," which is a dragon-like being found in Asturian and Galician mythology. The lyrics describe the cuélebre as having the scales of a fish and living in a river, unseen by anyone. The last time it was seen, it was disguised as a bagpiper, carrying mirrors that distort the size of objects reflected in them.

The song also discusses the cuélebre's ability to speak only in English but is trying to learn to speak backwards so as not to be understood by anyone. The words of the cuélebre are described as getting tangled up and forming unclear and mysterious ideas. According to the song, the cuélebre is also said to have been a transvestite, repeating to people that it was made that way and that it can bark like a dog, swim like a fish, or fly like a crow. Finally, the cuélebre is described as having skin that is inside out, and it is said that if you get close enough, you can pinch its testicles.

Line by Line Meaning

Dicen que el cuélebre tiene la escama de un pez
There's a rumor going around that the cuélebre has the scales of a fish and lives in the river, unseen. The last time it was spotted, it was disguised as a bagpiper, carrying mirrors that distort reality.

Dicen que el cuélebre habla tan solo en inglés
According to legend, the cuélebre speaks only in English, but is currently learning to speak backwards so that it can confuse everyone. It believes that words are unnecessary and often cloud good ideas.

Dicen las lenguas que el cuélebre fue un travestí
There are whispers that the cuélebre was once a transvestite, but it tells people that it was simply made this way. It can bark like a dog, swim like a fish, or fly like a crow. It loves to walk the streets in traditional wooden clogs, following women.

Dicen que el cuélebre tiene la piel del revés
Some claim that the cuélebre has inside-out skin, and that it drags its feet while wearing a bright red robe and holding an extinguished lantern. Children are scared of it, but some brave souls venture close enough to pinch its eggs.

Writer(s): Victor Manuel San Jose Sanchez

Contributed by Nora L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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