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.
Toma Mis Manos
Willie Colón Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lloraste como el condenado inocente
En pocos años todo era risa y alegría
No imaginabas como te quería
Como tu sombra te perseguía
Tus quebrantos, tus fracasos, mis agonías
Sabiendo que en mis manos tenia tu serenidad
Pero aunque lo quieras negar
Sabes que un día tu vas a dormir conmigo
Con un beso que te de, nada en el mundo importara
En un instante entenderás completamente
Que tu alma es mía para siempre y siempre
La vida entera yo he de esperar
Por tenerte en mis brazos
(Que te pasa, no te voy a morder)
Verás un día en que ese orgullo
Pero yo creo que me tienes miedo
Déjate de tantas cosas
Si tu sabes que tarde o temprano
Nos encontramos en cualquier sitio
Y
No te engaño ni seré un pasatiempo de una noche
Con un beso que te de, nada en el mundo importará
En un instante entenderás completamente
Que tu alma es mía para siempre y siempre
La vida entera yo he de esperar
Por tenerte en mis brazos
Pero toma mis manos y abrázame fuerte
Cierra los ojos yo
Soy la muerte, yo soy la muerte
Ven, ven, ven
Toma mis manos no tengas miedo
Si es como en un sueño
Yo
Soy la muerte
The lyrics to Willie Colón's song "Toma Mis Manos" are a haunting confession of a man's obsession with someone who was once close to him. The opening lines set a scene of nostalgia and fond remembrance, as the singer recalls the day the person was born and how joyful their childhood was. However, it quickly becomes apparent that something has drastically changed within their relationship. The singer hints at the person's struggles and failures, which have caused him immense agony. He confesses that he once held their "serenity" in his hands and is desperate to have it back. Though he tries to deny it to himself, the singer is convinced that the two will be together again one day, even if it means they will be together in death.
Line by Line Meaning
Como recuerdo el día que naciste
I remember the day you were born
Lloraste como el condenado inocente
You cried like an innocent prisoner
En pocos años todo era risa y alegría
In a few years, everything was laughter and joy
No imaginabas como te quería
You couldn't imagine how much I loved you
Como tu sombra te perseguía
I followed you like your shadow
Tus quebrantos, tus fracasos, mis agonías
Your troubles, your failures, my agonies
Sabiendo que en mis manos tenia tu serenidad
Knowing that I held your serenity in my hands
Al verte conforme, me aleje
Seeing you content, I backed away
Pero aunque lo quieras negar
But even if you deny it
Sabes que un día tu vas a dormir conmigo
You know that one day you'll sleep with me
Con un beso que te de, nada en el mundo importara
With one kiss from me, nothing else in the world will matter
En un instante entenderás completamente
In an instant, you'll understand completely
Que tu alma es mía para siempre y siempre
That your soul is mine forever and always
La vida entera yo he de esperar
I'll wait my whole life for you
Por tenerte en mis brazos
To hold you in my arms
(Que te pasa, no te voy a morder)
(What's wrong, I won't hurt you)
Verás un día en que ese orgullo
You'll see one day that pride
Pero yo creo que me tienes miedo
But I think you're afraid of me
Déjate de tantas cosas
Stop worrying about so many things
Si tu sabes que tarde o temprano
If you know that sooner or later
Nos encontramos en cualquier sitio
We'll meet somewhere
Y
And
No te engaño ni seré un pasatiempo de una noche
I won't deceive you or be a one-night stand
Con un beso que te de, nada en el mundo importará
With one kiss from me, nothing else in the world will matter
En un instante entenderás completamente
In an instant, you'll understand completely
Que tu alma es mía para siempre y siempre
That your soul is mine forever and always
La vida entera yo he de esperar
I'll wait my whole life for you
Por tenerte en mis brazos
To hold you in my arms
Pero toma mis manos y abrázame fuerte
But take my hands and hug me tightly
Cierra los ojos yo
Close your eyes
Soy la muerte, yo soy la muerte
I am death, I am death
Ven, ven, ven
Come, come, come
Toma mis manos no tengas miedo
Take my hands, don't be afraid
Si es como en un sueño
If it's like a dream
Yo
I
Soy la muerte
Am death
Contributed by Cameron E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.