Borinquen – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Willie Colón
• Album: El Malo

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw, energetic origins of salsa with Willie Colón's "Borinquen." This iconic track, featuring the unmistakable sounds of early Fania Records, offers a fantastic way to engage with Spanish by exploring lyrics that celebrate Puerto Rican identity and the lively rhythms of Latin music. It's a perfect song to appreciate cultural pride and the foundational elements of a genre that captivated the world.

[English]

Borinquen, to you I dedicate

this guaguancó

because it's the Cuban rhythm

and it's danced by Hispanics

and I dedicate it to you

...

Borinquen, to you I dedicate

this guaguancó

because it's the Cuban rhythm

and it's danced by Hispanics

and I dedicate it to you

...

It's from Borinquen, it's from Borinquen

From Borinquen, beautiful land, but I want to see you

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

Hey, the beautiful land that Columbus loved

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

But Columbus, tolón y tolón

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

In Borinquen, in Borinquen

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

The good rumba is danced, and that's how it is

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

Let me go, let me go, I'm heading to Borinquen

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

Hey, how beautiful Puerto Rico is

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

I'm leaving, I'm leaving

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

I'm going to Borinquen, man

...

Let's go to Borinquen!

...

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

Hey, my beautiful land, man

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

Don't leave me here, I'm going to Borinquen

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

Borin‑Borin‑Borinquen, Borinquen

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

To Borin‑Borinquen, to Borin‑Borinquen I'm going

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

To dance the rumba, man

(Ah‑eh, Borinquen is calling me)

I'm already heading to Borinquen

...

[Spanish]

Borinquén, a ti yo te dedico

Este guaguancó

Porque es el ritmo cubano

Y lo bailan los hispanos

Y te lo dedico yo

Borinquén, a ti yo te dedico

Este guaguancó

Porque es el ritmo cubano

Y lo bailan los hispanos

Y te lo dedico yo

Es de Borinquén, es de Borinquén

De Borinquén tierra linda, pero que yo a ti te quiero ver

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Eh, la tierra linda que amó Colón

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Pero Colón, tolón y tolón

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

En Borinquén, en Borinquén

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Se baila la rumba buena y como es

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Suéltame que suéltame, que voy pa' Borinquén

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Eh, qué lindo Puerto Rico es

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Que yo me voy, que yo me voy

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Que yo me voy pa' Borinquén men

¡Arranca pa' Borinquén!

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Eh, que tierra linda la mía, men

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

No me dejen por acá, me voy pa' Borinquén

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Borin-Borin-Borinquén, Borinquén

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

A Borin-Borinquén, a Borin-Borinquén voy

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

A bailar la rumba, men

(Ah-eh, Borinquén me llama)

Que ya me voy pa' Borinquén

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Borinquén bo.ɾin.ˈken A2	noun - Taíno name for Puerto Rico, used poetically to refer to the island.
dedico de.ˈdi.ko A2	verb - To dedicate or consecrate something to someone or something.
guaguancó ɡwa.ɡwan.ˈko B1	noun - Afro-Cuban music and dance style.
ritmo ˈri.tmo A2	noun - Rhythm or beat of music.
cubano ku.ˈβa.no A1	adjective - Relating to Cuba or its culture.
bailan bai.ˈlan A2	verb - To move to the rhythm of music.
hispanos is.ˈpa.nos A2	noun - People of Hispanic origin or culture.
tierra ˈtje.ra A1	noun - Solid surface of the planet.
linda ˈlin.da A1	adjective - Beautiful or attractive.
rumba ˈrum.ba A2	noun - Cuban music and dance style.
suéltame swel.ˈta.me B1	verb - To let go or release someone.
arranca a.ˈran.ka A2	verb - To undertake or begin something with energy.

Key Grammar Structures

• Borinquén, a ti yo te dedico

  ➔ Indirect Object Pronoun (IOD) + Verb Conjugation

  ➔ “A ti” is an indirect object pronoun referring to “Borinquén,” and “dedico” is the first-person singular present tense of “dedicar.”

• Porque es el ritmo cubano

  ➔ Present Tense of “ser” + Noun

  ➔ “Es” is the third-person singular present tense of “ser,” used to describe a permanent characteristic (the rhythm is Cuban).

• Y lo bailan los hispanos

  ➔ Present Tense of “bailar” + Direct Object Pronoun

  ➔ “Lo” is a direct object pronoun replacing “el ritmo cubano,” and “bailan” is the third-person plural present tense of “bailar.”

• Es de Borinquén, es de Borinquén

  ➔ Present Tense of “ser” + Preposition

  ➔ “Es” is repeated for emphasis, and “de” is a preposition indicating origin or possession.

• Suéltame que suéltame, que voy pa' Borinquén

  ➔ Imperative Mood + Contraction

  ➔ “Suéltame” is the imperative form of “soltar,” and “pa'” is a contraction of “para.”

• ¡Arranca pa' Borinquén!

  ➔ Imperative Mood + Exclamation

  ➔ “Arranca” is the imperative form of “arrancar,” used as a command, and the exclamation mark emphasizes urgency.

• A Borin-Borinquén, a Borin-Borinquén voy

  ➔ Preposition + Reduplication

  ➔ “A” is a preposition indicating direction, and “Borin-Borinquén” is reduplicated for emphasis and rhythm.