Te Conozco – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe
• Album: Cosa Nuestra

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the infectious rhythms of salsa with Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe's "Te Conozco." This iconic track offers a glimpse into the vibrant musical culture of Latin America, showcasing the powerful vocal delivery of Lavoe and Colón's signature trombone sound. Learning this song is a fantastic way to connect with the soulful storytelling and rich musical heritage of salsa.

[English]

Baccalao!

Ha, ha, ha, it's no use

...

I know you, baccalao

Don’t come with your fights

You come here all the time

Begging me for a peso

I know you, baccalao

Stay out of my way

...

I know you, baccalao

Don’t try to persuade me

Every time I see you, you tell me:

"Buddy, I’m broke"

Stay out of my way

I know you're fed up

I have to close my doors

And windows of my house

When I see you walking by

And you’re right next to me

Such an annoying guy

What a nuisance you are

You’ve really worn me out

I know you, baccalao

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

I know you, baccalao, I know you, you're fed up, fed up

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

At stop 25, a big fuss has broken out

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Oh, one baccalao, two baccalaos, three baccalaos, four baccalaos

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Hey, when I see you, you tell me: "Go with your girl somewhere else"

...

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Hey, be careful, be careful

Here comes the baccalao, fed up

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Hey, that stuff you’re wearing is fake, oh, your brother-in-law’s

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Hey, you don’t even have a dollar, and you’re always up to something

...

Keep your own, man, just leave me now

...

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Oh, be careful, my baccalao, they’re gonna take you and arrest you

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Always stealing, always sneaky, always broke

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Hey, enough with all your stories, I’m tired of you now

(I know you, baccalao

Even if you’re in disguise)

Oh, come on, baccalao, take it, here’s your baccalao, look at this baccalao, fed up

...

[Spanish]

¡Bacalao!

Ja, ja, ja, sala'o

Yo te conozco, bacalao

No vengas con pugilatos

Que tú vienes cada rato

Pidiéndome una peseta

Te conozco, bacalao

Conmigo tú no te metas

Te conozco, bacalao

No trates de persuadirme

Siempre que te veo me dices:

"Compadre estoy arranca'o"

Conmigo tú no te metas

Te conozco, estás sala'o

Tengo que cerrar las puertas

Y ventanas de mi casa

Cuando te veo caminar

Y pegadito la pasas

Qué muchacho tan incordio

Qué tipo más agarra'o

Me tiene ya hasta cansado

Te conozco, bacalao

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Que te conozco, bacalao, te conozco estás sala'o, sala'o

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

En la parada 25 se ha montado un bacalao

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Ay, un bacalao, dos bacalao', tres bacalao', cuatro bacalao'

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Eh, cuando yo te veo me dices: "Vete con la muña a otro la'o"

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Ay, ten cuida'o, que ten cuida'o

Que allá viene el bacalao, sala'o

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Eh, que esa ropa que tú tienes es presta', ay, de tu cuñado

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Eh, tú no tienes ni un billete, y siempre 'tás anota'o

Ten lo tuyo, chico, suéltame ya

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Ay, ten cuidado, mi bacalao, que te van a llevar arresta'o

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Siempre anota'o el bacalao, siempre arrebatado y siempre pela'o

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfraza'o)

Eh, que ya con tanto cuento, ya tú me tienes cansa'o

(Te conozco bacalao

Aunque vengas disfrazao')

Ay, dale bacalao, toma bacalao, viene el bacalao, mira bacalao, sala'o

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
conozco /koˈNo.θo/ A2	verb - I know
bacalao /ba.kaˈla.o/ B1	noun - codfish, dried and salted
vengas /ˈbeŋ.ɡas/ B1	verb - you come
pugilatos /pu.ɣiˈla.tos/ C1	noun - boxing matches or fights
peseta /peˈseta/ B2	noun - former Spanish currency unit
persuadirme /peɾ.swa.ðˈɾi.me/ B2	verb - to persuade me
arranca'o /a.ɾan.kaˈo/ C1	adjective - stressed, overwhelmed, or strained
metas /ˈme.ta/ A2	verb - to try or attempt
cerrar /seˈraɾ/ A2	verb - to close
puertas /ˈpweɾ.tas/ A2	noun - doors
ventanas /benˈta.nas/ A2	noun - windows
caminar /ka.miˈnar/ A2	verb - to walk
pegadito /pe.ɣaˈði.to/ C1	adjective - closely attached or sticking
muchacho /muˈtʃa.tʃo/ A2	noun - boy or young man

Key Grammar Structures

• Yo te conozco, bacalao

  ➔ Present tense for stating facts.

  ➔ The phrase "Yo te conozco" means "I know you," indicating familiarity.

• No vengas con pugilatos

  ➔ Imperative form for giving commands.

  ➔ The phrase "No vengas" translates to "Don't come," which is a command.

• Siempre que te veo me dices

  ➔ Present tense with a subordinate clause.

  ➔ The phrase "Siempre que te veo" means "Whenever I see you," indicating a condition.

• Conmigo tú no te metas

  ➔ Negative imperative form.

  ➔ The phrase "Conmigo tú no te metas" means "Don't get involved with me," which is a command.

• Que te conozco, bacalao

  ➔ Subjunctive mood for expressing doubt or uncertainty.

  ➔ The phrase "Que te conozco" implies a sense of recognition or awareness.

• Ten cuidado, que allá viene el bacalao

  ➔ Imperative with a warning.

  ➔ The phrase "Ten cuidado" means "Be careful," which is a warning.

• Siempre anota'o el bacalao

  ➔ Present perfect for ongoing actions.

  ➔ The phrase "Siempre anota'o" suggests a continuous state of being broke.