Starting to play the trumpet at the age of 12, Colón switched to the trombone two years later. Making his recording debut in 1967, for Al Santiago's Futura label, Colón became a victim of misfortune when the label folded. Colón was much more successful when he signed with Johnny Pacheco's Fania label. When his vocalist failed to make Colón's first session for the label, Pacheco suggested Hector Lavoe as a replacement. The collaboration proved fruitful when two singles from Colón's first two albums (El Malo, Guisando) — "Jazzy" and "I Wish I Had a Watermelon" — became hits. Lavoe remained a vital member of Colón's band until the mid-'70s when an increased drug addiction caused him to miss or show up late for several gigs. Although their partnership formally ended in 1975, Colón and Lavoe continued to work together. Lavoe's last album, Strikes Back, released in 1987, was produced by Colón.
In 1975, Colón balanced his schedule as director of the Latin Jazz All Stars with studies in music theory, composition, and orchestration. His increased knowledge paid off quickly. In 1978, Colón was named Musician, Producer, and Trombone Player of the Year in a readers poll conducted by Latin New York. Three years later, he received an award as Musician of the Year and his album Fantasmas was named Album of the Year. Colón continued to garner acclaim when his album Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos received a Grammy award in 1982.
Although they met backstage before a concert in Panama in 1969, Colón and Blades didn't begin collaborating until five years later. While working on the album The Good-The Bad-The Ugly, Colón asked Blades to sing on the Blades-penned tune "El Cazanguero," which reflected on Blades' experiences as a law student working in a Panamanian prison. The session was so satisfying that Blades became a full-time member of Colón's band following the departure of Lavoe. Their 1978 album Siembra became the top-selling album in Fania's catalog. Despite their success, Blades severely quarreled with label president Jerry Mascucci over money. Although Colón recorded two solo albums — El Baquine de Angelitos Negros in 1977 and Solo in 1979 — and Blades recorded a solo album, Maestra Vida, in 1980, their solo work failed to match the commercial success of their joint efforts.
In 1981, the two musicians resumed their partnership with Blades playing coro on Colón's solo album Fantasmas. The following year, they collaborated on the Grammy-winning album Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos, which yielded the hits singles "Tiburon," "Ligia Elena," and "Te Estan Buscando." Their partnership again proved short-lived as Colón and Blades split up after working on the film The Last Fight. The split was far from amiable and the two musicians continued to feud until reuniting for a concert at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan in March 1992. Despite collaborating on the album Tras la Tormenta in 1995, Colón and Blades recorded their parts separately. Following a reunion concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1997, Colón and Blades performed a series of concerts together.
In the late '80s, Colón formed a new band, Legal Aliens, with younger musicians. Signing with Sony, Colón and the band recorded Color Americano in 1990 and Honra y Cultura in 1991. Two years later, Colón recorded Hecho en Puerto Rico with an all-star band featuring ex-members of the Fania All-Stars, Papo Lucca and Bobby Valentin. Since leaving Sony over a lack of promotional support, Colón continued to remain active.
Si Te Contara
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi sufrimiento
Si te contara
La pena tan grande
Que llevo tan dentro
Que noche tras noche
De dolor y pena
Llena mi alma
Surge en mi memoria
Como una condena
Si tu supieras
Te importaria
Si te dijera
Que en mi ya no queda
Ni luz ni alegría
Que tu recuerdo
Es el daño mas fuerte
Que me hago yo mismo
Por seguir soñando
Con que tu regreses
Arrepentida
Si tu supieras
Te importaria
Si te dijera
Que en mi ya no queda
Ni luz ni alegría
Que tu recuerdo
Es el daño mas fuerte
Que me hago yo mismo
Por seguir soñando
Con que tu regreses
Arrepentida
Arrepentida
The lyrics of the song "Si Te Contara" by Willie Colón are about heartbreak and the pain and suffering that comes with it. The song tells the story of someone who is deeply hurt after a loved one left them. The singer describes the sadness and sorrow he feels every night, as memories of the past haunt him like a sentence.
The song is a plea to the lost lover who is not there to witness the pain she has caused. The lyrics reveal that the singer has lost not just his happiness but also his will to live, with "no light or joy" left in his life. He admits that he continues to hold onto the hope that his love will come back to him, even though it "is the most severe damage" he is causing himself.
The pain expressed in "Si Te Contara" is a universally felt emotion, and the song's lyrics have resonated with Spanish-speaking audiences since its release in 1970. The mix of love, longing, and melancholy that comes with heartbreak is exquisitely captured in Colón's voice and the melody of the song. Though it has been over 50 years since the song's debut, it remains a touching and poignant reminder of the universal experience of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Si tu supieras
If you only knew the depth of my pain and suffering
Mi sufrimiento
My intense suffering
Si te contara
If I were to share with you
La pena tan grande
The heavy burden and sadness
Que llevo tan dentro
That I carry within me
La triste historia
The sad story
Que noche tras noche
That haunts me night after night
De dolor y pena
Of pain and sorrow
Llena mi alma
Filling my soul
Surge en mi memoria
Rising up in my memory
Como una condena
Like a heart-wrenching sentence
Te importaria
Would you care?
Si te dijera
If I told you
Que en mi ya no queda
That there is no longer any
Ni luz ni alegría
Light or joy in my life
Que tu recuerdo
The memory of you
Es el daño mas fuerte
Is the strongest pain
Que me hago yo mismo
That I inflict on myself
Por seguir soñando
By continuing to dream
Con que tu regreses
That you will come back
Arrepentida
Regretful
Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carmen Cruz
A mi personalmente me encanta esta versión es que la voz de Willie es única e irrepetible.
Probasco
Es una canción tan tremenda que no importa quien la cante queda bien.
oscar perlaza
Este tema es elegante en cualquier voz y este caballo lo volvio mas elegante saludos desde buenaventura colombia
Ketzal Melchor
Hermosa canción 😘
Nanyss Soto
simplemente perfecta cancion
Marcos Castellanos
Como bolero tipo sonora (bolero rítmico), es fabuloso en cuanto a letra y musica. nos lleva a los años 40-50.
Rafael Rodriguez
Tremenda versión del Wi-Wi, como tiene vesiones este tema cubano. Bobby Cruz y Chivirico, Ismael Rivera, Tito Rodriguez, Panchito Rizet, Ibrahim Ferrer todas son muy buenas. Gracias.
Carmen Cruz
Es que es una hermosa canción y Willie la canta
magistralmente.
Haylov Cerna Rodriguez
Hasta el gran Maelo Rivera la versionó
Rafael Rodriguez
Ya y se me olvidó mencionar otras dos muy buenas también El Cubano Tito Gómez y el borinqueño Manny Roman con Ray Terrace. Hay que disfrutarlas todas, pero este arreglo con Willie Colòn està muy completo.