La Bamba is a Spanish folk song. Originally it was an instrumental tune, but today it’s better known for its lyrics. The song was written by Mexican composer Consuelo Velazquez, who was inspired by the life of one of her childhood friends, Valentino Arostegui.
According to Wikipedia: The La Bamba Lyrics actually tell the story of a man named Magdaleno “Bamba” Sanchez, who fell in love with Josefina “Chepe” Araujo and started a relationship with her.
Josefina was a Mexican-American woman, who at the time of the song’s composition was married to another man. She fell in love with Bamba and had an affair with him. Eventually Josefina left her husband and moved in with Magdaleno. Josefina and Magdaleno eventually got married, but their marriage was not a happy one. After several years of living together, the couple decided to separate. They had no children together.
Who is Ritchie Valens?
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer and songwriter. He was born Ricardo Valenzuela in Pacoima, California in 1941. He became a rock and roll star at age 17 with his hit song “Donna” which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His next song, La Bamba, also reached number two. He died in a plane crash in 1959 along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper while on their way to perform at a concert in Iowa. Valens was the first Mexican-American rock and roll star. He is credited with popularizing rock music among Mexican-Americans and introducing elements of Chicano culture into mainstream American music. Valens’ influence extends beyond music to fashion, film and literature. He has been referenced in a number of songs including those by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and U2.
La Bamba Lyrics
La Bamba is a traditional folk song that originated in Mexico. It was brought to the United States by Mexican immigrants and became popular in southern California. La Bamba Lyrics tell the story of a man who falls into the water while trying to catch crabs and drowns, but his pregnant wife tells everyone he died heroically fighting off an octopus. The song’s title means “The Mambo.”
The song was first recorded by Ritchie Valens in 1958, making it one of the earliest examples of rock ‘n roll music with Spanish lyrics. However, it wasn’t until 1987 that La Bamba hit American charts again as part of the soundtrack for a film based on Valens’ life story.
[Letra de “La Bamba”] [Coro]Para bailar La Bamba
Para bailar La Bamba
Se necesito una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia
Pa’ mi, pa’ ti, arriba, y arriba
Y arriba, y arriba
Por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti
[Verso]Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán
Soy capitán, soy capitán
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba, bam
[Coro]Para bailar La Bamba
Para bailar La Bamba
Se necesito una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia
Pa’ mi, pa’ ti, arriba, y arriba
[Puente]Rrr, ja-ja
[Coro]Para bailar La Bamba
Para bailar La Bamba
Se necesito una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia
Pa’ mi, pa’ ti, arriba, y arriba
Y arriba, y arriba
Por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti seré
[Outro]Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
So many versions available!
There are so many versions of la bamba lyrics, and their origins can be traced back to a Mexican folk song written around 1910.
Traditional La Bamba Lyrics
1st Verse
Para bailar la Bamba,
para bailar la Bamba,
Se necesita una poca de gracia,
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita.
Ay arriba y arriba,
ay arriba, ay arriba y arrbia iré
Yo no soy marrinero,
Yo no soy marrinero,
Por ti seré, por tí seré.
Bamba, bamba,
Bamba, bamba,
Bamba, bamba, bam.
2nd Verse
Para subir al cielo,
Para subir al cielo se necesita,
Una escalara grande,
Una escelara grandy y otra chiquita,
Ay arriba y arriba,
ay arriba y arriba, y arriba iré
Yo no soy marinero,
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán,
soy capitán, soy capitán.
3rd Verse
Cuando canto la bamba,
Cuando canto la bamba yo estoy contento,
porque yo me accompaño,
porque yo me accompaño con mi instrumento,
ay arriba y arriba
ay arriba, y arriba iré,
Yo no soy marinero,
Yo no soy marinero por tí seré,
por tí seré, por tí seré.
4th Verse
Ay te pido cupido (or Ay te pido, to pido)
Ay te pido cupido de compasión,
Que se acabe “La Bamba”
Que se acabe “La Bamba” venga otro son
Ay arriba y arriba
ay arriba y arriba, y arriba iré,
o no soy marinero,
Yo no soy marinero por tí seré,
por tí seré, por tí seré.
La Bamba Lyrics in English
Keep in mind that some of the meaning is lost in translation, but the song is about the dance, along with a lot of flirtations and double entendres.
1st Verse
To dance the La Bamba,
To dance the La Bamba,
You need a little bit of grace,
A little bit of grace and a little something else,
Oh Up and Up I go,
Oh Up and Up I go,
I am not a sailor,
I am not a sailor, but for you I will be,
for you I will be, for you I will be
In Ritchie’s version “a little something else” becomes something more like “for you, for me.”
2nd Verse
To go up to heaven,
To go up to heaven you need a big ladder,
A big ladder and another smaller one,
Oh Up and Up I go,
Oh Up and Up I go,
I am not a sailor,
I am not a sailor, I am a captain,
I am a captain, I am a captain.
(I am a captain? Yeah, I don’t get it either but who wouldn’t rather be a captain?)
3rd Verse
When I sing the La Bamba,
When I sing the La Bamba I am happy,
Because I accompany myself with my instrument,
Because I accompany myself with my instrument,
Oh Up and Up I go,
Oh Up and Up I go,
I am not a sailor,
I am not a sailor but for you I will be, etc…
4th Verse
Oh, I ask you Cupid (or, Oh, I ask, I ask..)
Oh, I ask you Cupid out of compassion,
That La Bamba should end,
That La Bamba should and another song will be played.
La Bamba Lyrics in Portuguese
Para dançar a Bamba,
para dançar a Bamba,
É preciso um pouco de graça
Um pouco de graça e outra coisinha.
Oh para cima e para cima
Oh up, oh up e eu irei
eu não sou um marinheiro
eu não sou um marinheiro
Para você eu serei, para você eu serei
Bamba, bamba,
Bamba, bamba,
Bamba, bam, bam.
Conclusion
La Bamba Lyrics have been changed and adapted many times over the years, with different versions in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The most famous version is the one written by Richie Valens in 1958. The song has been covered by many artists, including the Beach Boys and Los Lobos. It was also used in a 1962 movie called La Bamba, which starred Mexican actor Lou Diamond Phillips as Valens.
La Bamba Lyrics – FAQs
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When was La Bamba released?
La Bamba was released as a single on November 6th, 1958 and then as an EP in 1959. The song became popular after it was featured on the soundtrack for the film La Bamba which starred Lou Diamond Phillips and Esai Morales.
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Which album is the song La Bamba from?
La Bamba is the title track from the album of the same name. It was released in 1959 and features several other songs by Ritchie Valens.
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Who is the music director of La Bamba?
The music director of La Bamba was Bob Keane. He had previously worked with Ritchie Valens and helped him to land a recording contract with Del-Fi Records. What instrument does Ritchie Valens play in the song La Bamba? Ritchie Valens plays the guitar in La Bamba. The song features a catchy melody that is easy to play on guitar, and many people have tried to learn it since its release in 1959.
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Who is the singer of La Bamba?
Ritchie Valens is the singer of La Bamba. His greatest success came with his recording of “La Bamba”, which he also wrote. Valens recorded many singles in his short career, most notably “Donna” and “Come On, Let’s Go”.
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What is the duration of La Bamba?
The song is two minutes and fifty-four seconds long. Additionally, someone wrote it as a traditional Mexican folksong and Valens plays the guitar while singing in Spanish. Many artists, most notably Los Lobos and Richie Valens, have covered the song.
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How can I download La Bamba?
You can download La Bamba from iTunes or Amazon. Furthermore, you can also listen to it on Spotify and YouTube. In addition, you can find it on other platforms as well.
Also Read: 7 Key Tips for Starting a YouTube Channel
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