Candela by Buena Vista Social Club Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Cultural Inferno of Cuban Music
Lyrics
Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé
Puso un baile una jutía, para una gran diversión
De timbalero un ratón que alegraba el campo un día
Un gato también venía elegante y placentero
Buenas noche compañero siempre dijo así el timbal
Para ahí el tipo de tocar para descansar un poco
Salió el ratón medio loco, también voy a descansar
Y el gato en su buen bailar, bailaba un danzón liviano
El ratón se sube a guano y dice bien placentero
Y ahora si quieren bailar busquen otro timbalero
Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé
Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé
Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé
Oye, Faustino Oramas y sus compañeros, necesito
Que me apaguen el fuego
(Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé)
Margarita llama pronto a los bomberos
Para que vengan a apagar el fuego
(Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé)
Oye, si estas perdido marca los siete ceros
Y así vendrán mas pronto los bomberos
(Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé)
Ay candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé, mama
(Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé)
Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé
Ay, candela, candela, candela, me quemo, aé
Ay
(Me quemo, aé)
Dilan, dilan
(Me quemo, aé)
Dilan, galan
(Me quemo, aé)
Diriran, diriran
(Me quemo, aé)
Dilan, dilan, dilan
(Me quemo, aé)
Diriran, diriran
(Me quemo, aé)
Dilan, dilan, dilan
(Me quemo, aé)
Dilan, dilan garalan
(Me quemo, aé)
Dilan, dilan, dilan
(Me quemo, aé)
Margarita que me quemo (me quemo, aé)
Yo quiero seguir gozando (me quemo, aé)
La candela me esta llamando (me quemo, aé)
Me gusta seguir guarachando (me quemo, aé)
Está tarde venimo’ acabando (me quemo, aé)
Como quera seguimo’ tocando (me quemo, aé)
La mujer cuando de agacha (me quemo, aé)
Se le abre el entendimiento (me quemo, aé)
La mujer cuando de agacha (me quemo, aé)
Se le abre el entendimiento (me quemo, aé)
Y el hombre cuando la mira (me quemo, aé)
Se le para el pensamiento (me quemo, aé)
De tu me gusta una cosa (me quemo, aé)
Sin que me cueste trabajo (me quemo, aé)
De ti me gusta una cosa (me quemo, aé)
Sin que me cueste trabajo (me quemo, aé)
De la barriga pa’ arriba (me quemo, aé)
De la cintura pa’ abajo (me quemo, aé)
Mira se quema, se quema mama (me quemo, aé)
Mira se quema, se quema mama (me quemo, aé)
Mira mamá que me quemo (me quemo, aé)
Margarita llama pronto a los bomberos (me quemo, aé)
Para que vengan a apagar el fuego (me quemo, aé)
Mira que el fuego me está quemando (me quemo, aé)
Y no quiera seguir guareajando (me quemo, aé)
Mira se quema báyamo (me quemo, aé)
Mira que songo, está que arde (me quemo, aé)
Mira se quema la maya (me quemo, aé)
Mira ese pito que suena (me quemo, aé)
Malaguen está que corta mamá (me quemo, aé)
Santiago de Cuba está que te mete en llamas
Se quema, se quema, oye (me quemo, aé)
Mira me quemo, me quemo (me quemo, aé)
Mira mi mami me quemo (me quemo, aé)
Mira no quiero seguir guarachando (me quemo, aé)
Mira mamá que yo vengo quemando (me quemo, aé)
Faustino Orama’ tú está acabando (me quemo, aé)
Mira se quema, se quema (me quemo, aé)
Pero mira mi mami se quema (me quemo, aé)
Oye se quema, se quema (me quemo, aé)
The Buena Vista Social Club’s ‘Candela’ is more than just a song; it’s a journey through the heart of Cuba’s rich cultural landscape. Infused with a spirited mix of son cubano rhythms, the track is a vibrant testament to the fiery essence of the island’s musical heritage.
Understanding ‘Candela’ requires delving into the heat of Cuban life—its dance-filled streets, passionate expressions, and the tight-knit community’s celebrations. It’s a tale of burning intensity, of irresistible beats that draw even the most reluctant into the dance of life, and of the shared humanity that pulses within the music.
Igniting the Beat: The Story Behind ‘Candela’
At first listen, ‘Candela’ thrills with its catchy chorus and rhythmic appeal, inviting listeners to sway and lose themselves in the percussion. But the song’s narrative is rooted in a lively fable—a musical gathering of forest creatures enjoying a timbal-driven dance party, only to find the rhythm interrupted as the fiery energy of the celebration becomes too much to handle.
The interplay of characters in the song mirrors the vibrant social fabric of Cuban life: a blend of influences, personalities, and spontaneous events that can lead to unexpected outcomes. This story subtly comments on the unpredictability of life and communal experiences, much like the unpredictable improvisation found in Cuban jazz.
The Roaring Flames of ‘Candela’: Metaphor and Social Commentary
Beyond its literal narration, ‘Candela’ employs rich metaphorical language. ‘Candela,’ meaning fire or flame in Spanish, is a representation of fervor and intensity, embodying the spirit of Cuban people and their zest for life despite socio-economic hardships.
This repeated plea for the fire to be extinguished is a clever guise for expressing deeper desires, suggesting a yearning for relief from the heat of struggle and a call for help within a community known for its resilience and camaraderie. The lyrics tap into the collective consciousness of a people who have faced historical challenges yet continue to burn bright with cultural pride.
Lines That Sizzle: Memorable Verses in ‘Candela’
‘Margarita que me quemo’ (Margarita, I am burning) and ‘La candela me esta llamando’ (The flame is calling me) aren’t just catchy—they’re culturally significant. The lines echo through the song like a cry, gathering momentum with each iteration and echoing a sentiment that resonates across generation and geography.
They punctuate the themes of joy and pain intertwined, a salsa of life’s rich tapestry that Cubans navigate daily. These memorable lines draw the listener into the collective Cuban experience to embrace pleasure and strife as integral to the dance of life.
Unveiling the Hidden Heat: The Subtext of ‘Candela’
Underneath its surface, ‘Candela’ holds veiled references to Cuban sexuality and gender norms. Phrases like ‘La mujer cuando de agacha se le abre el entendimiento’ (When a woman bends over, she opens her understanding) and ‘Se le para el pensamiento’ (He stops thinking) play on double entendres that are both humorous and revealing.
These lyrical innuendos speak to a larger narrative of sensuality and the battle of the sexes—a common theme in Caribbean music, which often juxtaposes playful exchanges with pointed social observation. ‘Candela’ thus becomes an arena for teasing out the dynamics of Cuban masculinity and femininity.
Searing Legacies: How ‘Candela’ Captured An Era
Buena Vista Social Club didn’t just capture the spirit of a nation; they bottled lightning with ‘Candela.’ It transcends its own era to evoke nostalgia and paint a landscape of an immortalized Cuba, where the past is forever alive, pulsating to the beat of son cubano.
Encapsulating an era fraught with political tension and cultural renaissance, ‘Candela’ endures as a torchbearer of tradition, a melody that speaks to the tenacity of Cuban music to ignite the hearts of both the young and the old in a nation where music is not just entertainment—it’s a lifeblood.
