La danza de los Mirlos – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Damas Gratis

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of Argentine Cumbia with Damas Gratis's rendition of 'La Danza de los Mirlos.' This iconic track, originally by Los Mirlos, is more than just a song; it's an invitation to celebrate and connect through infectious rhythms, making it a perfect gateway to understanding the energy and communal spirit of Cumbia Villera.

[English]

As you all know, I'm not some rich kid or flashy.

I've been listening to cumbia for years, I don't know. Now let's make a national cumbia anthem, and then we'll throw the shirt, okay?

It starts like this, and it goes like this, wait.

...

Hands up high, high, high, high, high!

...

Clap your hands, everyone, jump, jump, jump!

...

... just like that!

THE DANCE OF THE MIRLOS... FOR ALL OF AMERICA

...

[Spanish]

Como ustedes saben, yo no soy ningun logi ni cheto

Hace varios años que escucho cumbia, no sé. Vamos a hacer ahora un himno nacional de la cumbia y ahí tiramos la remera, está?

Comienza así de esta manera, y dice así, pará

Las manitos bien arriba arriba arriba arriba arriba

Las palmas de todos los negros arriba saltando saltando, saltando!

... (ahí nomá!)

LA DANZA DE LOS MIRLOS... PARA TODA AMÉRICA

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
salto /ˈsal.to/ A2	noun - jump or leap
manito /maˈni.to/ A2	noun - little hand; a term of camaraderie or greeting
palma /ˈpal.ma/ A2	noun - palm of the hand; palm tree
cumbia /ˈkum.bja/ B1	noun - a traditional Colombian dance and music genre
mirlos /ˈmi.ɾlos/ B1	noun - a type of blackbird, specifically the black-mirlo
américa /aˈme.ɾi.ka/ A2	noun - America, the continents of North and South America
hacer /aˈθeɾ/ A2	verb - to do, to make
querer /keˈɾeɾ/ B1	verb - to want, to love
bailar /baiˈlaɾ/ A2	verb - to dance
remera /reˈme.ɾa/ A2	noun - t-shirt

Key Grammar Structures

• Como ustedes saben, yo no soy ningun logi ni cheto

  ➔ Use of 'como' to introduce a clause.

  ➔ The phrase 'Como ustedes saben' translates to 'As you all know', indicating a shared understanding.

• Hace varios años que escucho cumbia, no sé.

  ➔ Use of present tense to describe ongoing actions.

  ➔ The phrase 'Hace varios años que escucho cumbia' means 'I have been listening to cumbia for several years', indicating a continuous action.

• Las manitos bien arriba arriba arriba arriba arriba

  ➔ Use of repetition for emphasis.

  ➔ The repetition of 'arriba' emphasizes the action of raising hands, creating excitement.

• Las palmas de todos los negros arriba saltando saltando, saltando!

  ➔ Use of definite articles to specify nouns.

  ➔ The phrase 'Las palmas de todos los negros' translates to 'The hands of all the black people', specifying who is participating.

• LA DANZA DE LOS MIRLOS... PARA TODA AMÉRICA

  ➔ Use of capital letters for emphasis.

  ➔ The phrase 'LA DANZA DE LOS MIRLOS' is written in all caps to highlight its importance as the title.