Bemba Colora – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Celia Cruz
• Album: Son Con Guaguanco

Lyrics & Translation

Explore Celia Cruz's powerful song "Bemba Colora" and discover its vibrant message of pride and cultural celebration. This song offers a window into Afro-Latin heritage, encouraging listeners to embrace their uniqueness and the beauty of diversity.

[English]

For me, you are nothing

You have the red lips

For me, you are nothing

You have the red lips

Sing your rumba

Sing your son

Your guarachita and your dance, oh!

For me, you are nothing

You have the red lips

Come on!

For me, you are nothing

You have the red lips

For me, you are nothing

You have the red lips

Sing your rumba

Sing your son

Your guarachita and your dance, oh!

For me, for me, for me

You are nothing

You have the red lips

(For me, you are nothing, you have the red lips)

Hey for me, for me, for me

You are nothing

Your lips have grown red

(For me, you are nothing, you have the red lips)

Hey black, you haven't seen your lips

Hey, you have the red lips

(For me, you are nothing, you have the red lips)

Pick up, pick up, pick up the lips, oh! you are nothing

You haven't seen your lips that are red

(For me, you are nothing, you have the red lips)

Red lips

Hey, you have the red lips

(Red lips)

Oh, I haven't seen your lips

(Red lips)

Oh red, red, red, red, red, red... Hey little black, your lips

(Red lips)

Oh look, look, your lips have grown

(Red lips)

For me, it's not worth more because of your lips

(Red lips)

Hey, your red lips, your red lips, your red lips, red, red

(Red lips)

Red lips

Red lips.

...

[Spanish]

Pa' mi, tu no eres na'

Tu tienes la Bemba Colora

Pa' mi, tu no eres na'

Tu tienes la Bemba Colora

Canta tu rumba

Canta tu son

Tu guarachita y tu danson ay!

Pa' mi, tu no eres na'

Tu tienes la Bemba Colora

Vaya!

Pa' mi, tu no eres na'

Tu tienes la Bemba Colora

Pa' mi, tu no eres na'

Tu tienes la Bemba Colora

Canta tu rumba

Canta tu son

Tu guarachita y tu danson ay!

Pa' mi, pa' mi, pa' mi

Tu no eres na'

Tu tienes la Bemba Colora

(Pa' mi, tu no eres na', tu tienes la Bemba Colora)

Oye pa', mi pa' mi, pa' mi

Tu no eres na'

Te creció la bemba colora

(Pa' mi, tu no eres na', tu tienes la Bemba Colora)

Oye negro tu no te haz visto la bemba

Oye tu tienes la bemba colora

(Pa' mi, tu no eres na', tu tienes la Bemba Colora)

Recoge, recoge, recoge la bemba ay! tu no eres na

Tu no te haz visto la bemba que es colora

(Pa' mi, tu no eres na', tu tienes la Bemba Colora)

Bemba Colora

Oye tu tienes la Bemba

(Bemba Colora)

Ay yo no te eh visto la bemba

(Bemba Colora)

Ay colora, colora, colora, colora, colora, colora... Oye negrito tu bemba

(Bemba Colora)

Ay mira mira te creció la bemba

(Bemba Colora)

Pa' mi no vale mas porque tu bemba

(Bemba Colora)

Oye tu bemba colora, tu bemba colora, tu bemba colora, colora, colora

(Bemba Colora)

Bemba Colora

Bemba Colora.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
color /koˈloɾa/ A2	noun - visual perception through light wavelengths
bemba /ˈbemba/ B1	noun - a specific part of the face or body, often referring to the lip or a facial feature in some Latin American contexts
canta /ˈkanta/ A1	verb - to sing
rumba /ˈrumba/ B1	noun - a lively dance of Afro-Cuban origin
son /sɔn/ A2	noun - a genre of traditional Cuban music and dance
guarachita /gwaɾaˈtʃita/ B2	noun - diminutive form of 'guaracha', a lively Cuban dance or music style
danson /danˈson/ B2	noun - a type of Cuban folk or dance music
haz /as/ A2	verb - to do or make (informal imperative form)
negro /ˈneɣɾo/ A2	noun - black person

Key Grammar Structures

• Pa' mi, tu no eres na'

  ➔ Negation with 'no' to express 'not'.

  ➔ The phrase "tu no eres na" means "you are nothing".

• Tu tienes la Bemba Colora

  ➔ Use of 'tienes' (you have) to indicate possession.

  ➔ The phrase "tu tienes la Bemba Colora" means "you have the red lip".

• Canta tu rumba

  ➔ Imperative form to give a command.

  ➔ The phrase "canta tu rumba" means "sing your rumba".

• Te creció la bemba colora

  ➔ Use of 'creció' (grew) in the past tense.

  ➔ The phrase "te creció la bemba colora" means "your red lip grew".

• Oye negro tu no te haz visto la bemba

  ➔ Use of 'oye' (hey) as an informal address.

  ➔ The phrase "oye negro" means "hey black (man)".

• Recoge, recoge, recoge la bemba

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis in commands.

  ➔ The phrase "recoge, recoge, recoge" means "pick up, pick up, pick up".

• Ay colora, colora, colora, colora

  ➔ Use of exclamatory expressions for emotion.

  ➔ The phrase "ay colora" expresses excitement about the color.