Cugat was born Francisco de Asis Javier Cugat Mingall de Bru y Deulofeo in Girona, Spain. His family immigrated to Cuba when he was five. He trained as a classical violinist and played with the Orchestra of the Teatro Nacional in Havana.
Sometime between 1915 and 1918, Cugat moved to New York, where he played with a band called "The Gigolos" during the tango craze. Later, he went to work for the Los Angeles Times as a cartoonist (Cugat's caricatures were later nationally syndicated).
In the late 1920s, when sound began to be used in films, Cugat put together a tango band that had some success in early short musical films. By the early 1930s, he began appearing with his group in feature films. Cugat took his band to New York to open the new Waldorf Astoria Hotel and it became the hotel's resident group.
He shuttled between New York and Los Angeles for most of the next thirty years, alternating hotel and radio dates with movie appearances.
In 1940, he recorded the song Perfidia with singer Miguelito Valdés which became a big hit. Cugat followed trends closely, making records for the conga, the mambo, the cha-cha-cha, and the twist when each were in fashion.
His first marriage in 1952 was to singer, Abbe Lane, they performed together until they divorced in 1964. He married salsa dancer Charo on August 7, 1966; the two were the first couple to marry in the newly opened Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
Cugat did not lose sleep over artistic compromises: "I would rather play
Chiquita Banana and have my swimming pool than play Bach and starve."
Cugat died of heart failure at age 90 in Barcelona, in his native province of Catalonia, Spain.
Spanish Eyes
Xavier Cugat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes
Please, please don't cry
This is just adios and not goodbye
Soon I'll return
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si, si"
Blue Spanish eyes
Prettiest eyes in all of Mexico
True Spanish eyes
Please smile at me once more before I go
Soon I'll return
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si, si"
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
In Xavier Cugat's song "Spanish Eyes," the lyrics paint a picture of a bittersweet farewell between two lovers. The opening lines -- "Blue Spanish eyes, teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes" -- suggest that the person being addressed is feeling saddened or emotional. Perhaps they are crying at the impending separation. The plea to not cry indicates that the singer understands the pain of parting but wants to offer reassurance.
The next line, "This is just adios and not goodbye," highlights the distinction between a temporary parting and a permanent farewell. It suggests that the singer will return, implying that this is not the end of their relationship. The word "adios" also adds a touch of romance and cultural significance, evoking the Spanish language and its different meanings from the English word "goodbye."
The song continues as the singer assures the listener that they will come back soon, bringing an abundance of love for them. "Bringing you all the love your heart can hold" expresses the depth of the singer's affection and promises a future filled with love and happiness. The repeated phrase "please say 'Si, si'" is a request for confirmation and a symbol of the listener's agreement to wait for the singer's return.
The lyrics also mention "blue Spanish eyes" and describe them as the prettiest eyes in all of Mexico. Here, the term "Spanish eyes" refers to the eyes of the person being addressed, emphasizing their beauty and uniqueness. The mention of Mexico suggests a connection to Latin culture and further contributes to the song's romantic and exotic atmosphere.
Finally, the song concludes with the plea to "smile at me once more before I go" as a final memory to hold onto before the departure. The repetition of the promise to return and the request for the listener's commitment, saying "you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me," reinforces the theme of love and longing, suggesting that distance cannot break their bond.
Overall, "Spanish Eyes" explores the emotions of separation, expressing a mixture of sadness, hope, and longing. The song seeks to reassure the listener of the singer's return, urging them to wait and maintain the connection until they are reunited.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue Spanish eyes
The color of your eyes reminds me of the deep emotion and passion of Spain
Teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes
You are feeling sad and crying, reflecting the pain in your eyes that are full of Spanish passion
Please, please don't cry
I'm asking you to hold back your tears, not wanting to see you in pain
This is just adios and not goodbye
I'm saying farewell for now, but it's not a permanent goodbye
Soon I'll return
I promise to come back in the near future
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
I will bring you an abundance of love, filling your heart completely
Please say 'Si, si'
I'm asking you to say 'Yes, yes,' showing your agreement and willingness to wait for me
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Confirm that you and your passionate eyes will patiently wait for my return
Prettiest eyes in all of Mexico
Your eyes are the most beautiful among all the people in Mexico
True Spanish eyes
Your eyes embody the genuine essence and spirit of Spain
Please smile at me once more before I go
I'm requesting a final smile from you before I depart
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Reiterate that you and your passionate eyes will patiently await my return
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: Carlos Villalobos, Garry Applebaum
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John
on Oye Negra
His first wif, Carmen Castillo was his greatest vocalist.