Che Che Cole – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe
• Album: Cosa Nuestra

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heart of Latin rhythm with 'Che Che Cole'! This song is a perfect gateway to learning Spanish through its rhythmic call-and-response patterns and vibrant street slang. Listen closely to Héctor Lavoe's soulful improvisations to master the cadence, flow, and expressive energy that make salsa so special.

[English]

Let's all go dance African style

If you don't know how to dance, I'll teach you, my brother

You love the "bomba" and you love the "batiné"

So you can enjoy yourself, the beat is African

(Cheché colé), it's so good

(Chechecotiza), dying of laughter

(Toquizalanga) oh, here comes the Malanga

(Cacachilanga) coming from Catanga

(Aie, ie) Aie, ie, you see it

(Cheché colé), it's so good

(Chechecotiza), dying of laughter

(Toquizalanga) oh, toquizalanga

(Cacachilanga) oh, cacachilanga

(Aie, ie) Aie, ie, you see it

Hey you, sitting over there, you look Venezuelan

Come here, let's dance, we are all brothers

They dance it in Venezuela, they dance it in Panama

This rhythm is African and it's going to take over everywhere

(Cheché colé), it's so good

(Chechecotiza), dying of laughter

(Toquizalanga) oh, toquizalanga

(Cacachilanga) eh, the pirate is calm

(Aie, ie) Aie, come, come, you see it

(Cheché colé), merecumbé

(Chechecotiza), dying of laughter

(Toquizalanga) don't grab my sleeve

(Cacachilanga) oh, smell the Malanga

(Aie, ie) Ah, come on, it's not just a party

I already know you liked it, you want to dance it again

Dance it on your tiptoes and you'll see how good it is

I already know you liked it, you want to dance it again

Well, put your shoes on right, you have them on the wrong feet

(Cheché colé), it's so good

(Chechecotiza), dying of laughter

(Toquizalanga) oh, here comes the malanga

(Cacachilanga) eh, coming from Catanga

(Aie, ie) Aie, come, come, you see it

(Cheché colé), it's so good

(Chechecotiza), dying of laughter

(Toquizalanga) oh, here comes the malanga

(Cacachilanga) eh, coming from Catanga

(Aie, ie) Aie, come, come, you see it

(Cheché colé), it's so good

(Chechecotiza), dying of laughter

(Toquizalanga) oh, here comes the malanga

...

[Spanish]

(Vamos todos a bailar al estilo africano

Si no lo sabes bailar yo te enseñaré mi hermano)

A ti te gusta la bomba y te gusta el batiné

Para que goces ahora, africano es el bembé

(Cheché colé), qué bueno es

(Chechecotiza), muerto de la risa

(Toquizalanga) ay viene la Malanga

(Cacachilanga) viene de Catanga

(Aie, ie) Aie, ie, tú lo ves

(Cheché colé), qué bueno es

(Chechecotiza), muerto de la risa

(Toquizalanga) ay toquizalanga

(Cacachilanga) ay, cacachilanga

(Aie, ie) Aie, ie, tú lo ves

(Oye tú, sentado allá, pareces venezolano,

Ven aquí, vamos a bailar que todos somos hermanos)

Lo bailan en Venezuela, lo bailan en Panamá

Este ritmo es africano y donde quiera va acabar

(Cheché colé), qué bueno es

(Chechecotiza), muerto de la risa

(Toquizalanga) ay toquizalanga

(Cacachilanga) eh, serena es la pirata

(Aie, ie) Aie, ven, ven, tú lo ves

(Cheché colé), merecumbé

(Chechecotiza), muerto de la risa

(Toquizalanga) no me agarre la manga

(Cacachilanga) ay, huele la Malanga

(Aie, ie) Ah, ven, pachanga no es

(Ya yo sé que te gustó quiere bailarlo otra vez

Báilalo en la punta del pie y verás que bueno es)

Ya yo sé que te gustó, quiere bailarlo otra vez

Pues ponte bien los zapatos que los tienes al revés

(Cheché colé), qué bueno es

(Chechecotiza), muerto de la risa

(Toquizalanga) ay viene la malanga

(Cacachilanga) eh, viene de Catanga

(Aie, ie) Aie, ven, ven, tú lo ves

(Cheché colé), qué bueno es

(Chechecotiza), muerto de la risa

(Toquizalanga) ay viene la malanga

(Cacachilanga) eh, viene de Catanga

(Aie, ie) Aie, ven, ven, tú lo ves

(Cheché colé), qué bueno es

(Chechecotiza), muerto de la risa

(Toquizalanga) ay viene la malanga

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bailar bailar A1	verb - to dance
estilo estilo A2	noun - style
hermano hermano A1	noun - brother
bomba bomba A2	noun - musical genre from Puerto Rico
goces goces B1	verb - to enjoy
muerto muerto A1	adjective - dead
risa risa A2	noun - laughter
sentado sentado A2	adjective - seated
ritmo ritmo B1	noun - rhythm
acabar acabar A2	verb - to finish
serena serena B2	adjective - serene / calm
pirata pirata B1	noun - pirate
manga manga B1	noun - sleeve
zapatos zapatos A1	noun - shoes
punta punta A2	noun - tip / point

Key Grammar Structures

• Si no lo sabes bailar yo te enseñaré mi hermano

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ Uses 'Si' + present indicative + future tense to express a real possibility.

• A ti te gusta la bomba y te gusta el batiné

  ➔ Verb 'Gustar' with indirect object pronouns

  ➔ The structure uses 'A ti' for emphasis followed by the indirect pronoun 'te' to indicate preference.

• Pareces venezolano

  ➔ Linking verb 'Parecer'

  ➔ Used to describe appearance or resemblance ('seem'/'look like').

• Este ritmo es africano y donde quiera va acabar

  ➔ Subjunctive with 'donde quiera'

  ➔ Indefinite clause structure expressing 'wherever'.

• No me agarre la manga

  ➔ Negative Imperative (Formal/Subjunctive)

  ➔ Uses 'no' + subjunctive form to give a negative command.

• Ya yo sé que te gustó

  ➔ Preterite tense

  ➔ Indicates a completed action in the past ('it pleased you').

• Quieres bailarlo otra vez

  ➔ Verb phrase with enclitic pronoun

  ➔ The pronoun 'lo' is attached to the infinitive 'bailar' to form a single unit.

• Pues ponte bien los zapatos

  ➔ Reflexive verb in the Imperative

  ➔ The verb 'ponerse' is conjugated in the imperative form (tú) to give advice/instruction.