Montero – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Willie Colón
• Album: The Hustler

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of salsa with Willie Colón's "Montero." This classic track, with its infectious rhythms and Héctor Lavoe's charismatic vocals, offers a fantastic entry point to understanding the lively, celebratory spirit of Spanish-language music. You'll encounter dynamic phrases encouraging dance and enjoyment, providing a fun and authentic way to pick up common expressions and appreciate the rich cultural tapestry of salsa from one of its pioneers.

[English]

...

I come from the hills, a hunter

With a hot Jala Jala

Jala Jala so they can dance,

So my people can enjoy

Hey, what a tasty Jala Jala

Everyone wants to dance

Let's go, good dancer,

Let's pull it over there and over here.

I come from the hills, a hunter

With a hot Jala Jala

Jala Jala so they can dance,

So my people can enjoy

Hey, with this Jala Jala

Everyone will be happy.

Pull and pull, and what, pull and pull,

And pull here, and pull there and everywhere.

I come from the hills, a hunter

With a hot Jala Jala

Jala Jala so they can dance,

So my people can enjoy

Pull with Willie Colón

Jala Jala, how tasty

Jala Jala, Jala Jala

Jala Jala, the dancer calls me

Jala Jala, I make him pull

Jala Jala, the Jala Jala

Jala Jala, and it's so good

Jala Jala, oh come, come, come, come

Jala Jala, and come pull

Jala Jala, I'm dying (so excited)

Jala Jala, I want to go over there

Jala Jala, Jala Jala and pull

Jala Jala, let's pull

And come back again

Firecracker, firecracker, hey!

Jala Jala, it's the Jala Jala

Jala Jala, and it's so good

Jala Jala, oh, firecracker, firecracker

Jala Jala, I want to pull

Jala Jala, that's in Puerto Rico

Jala Jala, I'm going over there

Jala Jala, oh, how good

Jala Jala, and let's pull

Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, ha...

Jala Jala, pull here, and pull there

Jala Jala, pull here, and pull there

Jala Jala, pull here... and let's have fun

Jala Jala, with [?]

Jala Jala, come over to pull

Jala Jala, it's the Jala Jala

Jala Jala, and it's so good

Jala Jala, if the dancers call me

Jala Jala, I get them to pull

Jala Jala, it's the Jala Jala

Jala Jala, how tasty it goes

Jala Jala, oh, to Puerto Rico

Jala Jala, I'm going to pull

Jala Jala, oh, I'm dying

Jala Jala, I want to pull

[Spanish]

Vengo del monte, montero

Con Jala jala caliente

Jala jala para que bailen,

Para que gocen mi gente

Eh, que rico el Jala jala

Toditos quieren bailar

Vámonos rumbero bueno,

Vamos a jalar pa'llá y pa'cá.

Vengo del monte, montero

Con Jala jala caliente

Jala jala para que bailen,

Para que gocen mi gente

Eh, con este Jala jala

Toditos se alegrarán.

Jala y jala, y que, Jala y jala,

Y jala pa'quí, y jala pa'llá y pa'cá.

Vengo del monte, montero

Con Jala jala caliente

Jala jala para que bailen,

Para que gocen mi gente

Jala con Willie Colón

Jala jala Y que rico

Jala jala Jala jala

Jala jala Que el rumbero me llama

Jala jala Yo lo pongo a jalar

Jala jala El Jala jala

Jala jala Y bueno que'stá

Jala jala Ay vení, vení, vení, ven

Jala jala Y ven a jalar

Jala jala Que me muero

Jala jala Yo quiero ir pa'llá

Jala jala Jala jala y que jala

Jala jala Vamo' a jalá'

Y vuelve otra vez

¡Pirilín, pirilín, eh!

Jala jala Es el Jala jala

Jala jala Y bueno que'stá

Jala jala Ay, pirilín, pirilín

Jala jala Yo quiero jalar

Jala jala Que está en Puerto Rico

Jala jala Yo voy pa'llá

Jala jala Ay, que bueno

Jala jala Y vamo' a jalar

Jala jala Vala, vala, vala, vala, vala ja...

Jala jala Y jala pa'quí, y jala pa'llá

Jala jala Y jala pa'quí, y jala pa'llá

Jala jala Y jala pa'quí... y vamo' a gozar

Jala jala Con [?]

Jala jala Vente pa' jalar

Jala jala Es el Jala jala

Jala jala Y bueno que'stá

Jala jala Si los rumberos me llaman

Jala jala Yo los pongo a jalar

Jala jala Es el Jala jala

Jala jala Y rico que va

Jala jala Ay, pa' Puerto Rico

Jala jala Yo voy a jalar

Jala jala Ay, me muero

Jala jala Yo quiero jalar

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
montero mo.ne.ˈɾo A2	noun - hunter or ranger
jala ˈha.la A1	verb - to pull or move something
caliente ka.ˈli.en.te A1	adjective - hot, with high temperature
bailen bai.ˈlen A1	verb - to dance
gocen ˈɡo.sen A2	verb - to enjoy
rumbero rum.ˈbe.ɾo B1	noun - rumba musician or dancer
alegrarán a.le.ɣɾa.ˈɾan A2	verb - to become happy
gente ˈɡen.te A1	noun - people
vamo' ˈba.mo A1	verb - let's go (contraction of 'vamos a')
rico ˈri.ko A1	adjective - tasty, pleasant
Puerto Rico ˈpweɾ.to ˈri.ko A1	proper noun - U.S. territory in the Caribbean

Key Grammar Structures

• Vengo del monte, montero

  ➔ Present tense verb conjugation

  ➔ The verb 'vengo' is the first-person singular present tense form of 'venir' (to come), indicating an action happening now.

• Con Jala jala caliente

  ➔ Preposition 'con' + adjective

  ➔ The preposition 'con' is used to introduce the noun phrase 'Jala jala caliente', describing it with the adjective 'caliente' (hot).

• Para que bailen, para que gocen mi gente

  ➔ Subjunctive mood after 'para que'

  ➔ The verbs 'bailen' and 'gocen' are in the subjunctive mood after 'para que', expressing purpose or desire.

• Toditos quieren bailar

  ➔ Diminutive suffix '-itos' + present tense

  ➔ The suffix '-itos' in 'toditos' is a diminutive, adding a sense of affection or smallness. 'Quieren' is the present tense of 'querer'.

• Vámonos rumbero bueno

  ➔ Reflexive pronoun 'nos' + imperative

  ➔ The reflexive pronoun 'nos' is used with the imperative 'vámonos' (let's go), indicating a shared action.

• Jala y jala, y que, Jala y jala

  ➔ Reduplication for emphasis

  ➔ The phrase 'Jala y jala' is reduplicated to emphasize the action or rhythm.

• Ay vení, vení, vení, ven

  ➔ Imperative form repetition

  ➔ The imperative form 'vení' (come) is repeated for emphasis and rhythmic effect.

• ¡Pirilín, pirilín, eh!

  ➔ Interjection for expression

  ➔ The interjection 'Pirilín' is used to express excitement or emphasis in the song.