El Tieso y la Negra Soledad – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Maldita Vecindad Y los Hijos Del 5to Patio
• Album: Mostros

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into 'El Tieso y la Negra Soledad' to experience the rich vernacular and colorful street slang of Mexico City. Through its poetic storytelling and blend of traditional rhythms with rock, this song offers an engaging way to learn colloquial Mexican Spanish while exploring the cultural heart of the capital's urban life.

[English]

I have a cousin stiff as a board

At parties, he always stays seated

He doesn't want to dance, no way.

But one day at a party he met Soledad

And then he saw her shaking it.

That dark-skinned woman is pure fire,

How she moves her hips,

And my cousin, poor guy,

Already wanted to marry her right then and there,

There he goes.

Soledad, my dear,

My cousin has learned to dance.

Pure ska, merengue, and son,

Mambo, calypso, and guaguancó.

Soledad, my dear,

My cousin is a great dancer.

It's the absolute truth that love

Can conquer all, yes sir.

The day came when my cousin

Was able to ask someone to dance at a party:

Soledad, how nice.

Right away, people formed a circle around them in amazement,

Seeing them enjoy the pure heat.

And the dark beauty showed off with her sweetest smile

And my cousin, acting like a true pachuco,

Had some smooth moves of his own.

Soledad, my dear,

Your ideal match has arrived.

Pure ska, charanga, and son,

Mambo, calypso, and guaguancó.

Soledad, my dear,

You won't have to look any further.

It's the absolute truth that love

Can conquer all, yes sir.

...

[Spanish]

Tengo un primo tieso como un palo

En las fiestas siempre se queda sentado

No quiere bailar, que va.

Pero un día conoció en la fiesta a Soledad

Y entonces la vio guarachear.

Esa negra es pura lumbre,

Como mueve las caderas,

Y mi primo, pobre chico,

Ya se nos quería casar nomás,

Ahí va.

Soledad, negra,

Mi primo ya aprendió a bailar.

Puro ska, merengue y son,

Mambo, calipso y guaguancó.

Soledad, negra,

Mi primo es un gran bailador.

Pura verdad es que el amor

Lo puede todo, si señor.

Llegó el día en que mi primo

Pudo en una fiesta sacar a bailar

A Soledad, que bien.

Luego luego les hicieron rueda asombrados,

Al verlos gozar la pura candela nomás.

Y la negra se lucía con su sonrisa más linda

Y mi primo bien pachuco,

También tenía lo suyo.

Soledad, negra,

Llegó tu pareja ideal.

Puro ska, charanga y son,

Mambo, calipso y guaguancó.

Soledad, negra,

Ya no tendrás más que buscar.

Pura verdad es que el amor

Lo puede todo, si señor

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tieso /ˈtjeso/ B2	adjective - Stiff, rigid, or inflexible.
palo /ˈpalo/ A2	noun - Stick or piece of wood.
fiesta /ˈfjesta/ A1	noun - Party or celebration.
sentado /senˈtado/ A1	adjective - Seated or sitting.
bailar /bajˈlaɾ/ A1	verb - To dance.
lumbre /ˈlumbɾe/ B2	noun - Fire, heat, or passion.
caderas /kaˈdeɾas/ B1	noun - Hips.
chico /ˈtʃiko/ A1	noun - Boy or young person.
casar /kaˈsaɾ/ A2	verb - To marry.
bailador /bajlaˈdoɾ/ B1	noun - Dancer.
amor /aˈmoɾ/ A1	noun - Love.
asombrados /asonˈbɾados/ B2	adjective - Astonished, amazed, or surprised.
gozar /ɡoˈsaɾ/ B1	verb - To enjoy or take pleasure in.
candela /kanˈdela/ B2	noun - Fire, flame, or intense rhythm/excitement.
sonrisa /sonˈrisa/ A2	noun - Smile.
pachuco /paˈtʃuko/ C1	adjective - Pachuco (subculture style characterized by flashy zoot suits and street slang).
pareja /paˈɾeha/ A2	noun - Partner or couple.
ideal /iˈdeal/ A2	adjective - Ideal or perfect.