Que Lio – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe
• Album: The Hustler

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the rich narratives of Salsa with "Que Lio" by Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe. This iconic song offers a powerful insight into the Spanish language through its evocative lyrics of love, friendship, and heartbreak. By following the poignant story of Ramón Puntilla, learners can grasp expressions of deep emotion and everyday Spanish phrases, all set to an irresistible Latin rhythm that has captivated audiences for decades.

[English]

Africa

What a mess, sir,

The one I’m in right now.

Ramón Puntilla used to say,

When he called his mom.

I’ve got this tasty girl,

The one I want to marry.

But they just told me,

No, I can’t marry her.

Because she’s my friend’s girlfriend,

And that’s something to think about.

I hate all those who love,

And how happy they are.

Because Iiiiiii...

Can’t have,

A little love that understands me,

And calls me daddy and truly loves me.

My God, help me,

I want to forget.

Help me, help me.

Help me forget her, I’m begging you,

Help me.

I love her so much,

And I don’t, I don’t want to lose her.

What a mess with Mariana,

The one my buddy found himself in.

And I who was enjoying myself,

From one day to the next.

What a mess with Mariana,

The one my buddy found himself in.

Ramón Puntilla loved her,

Ramón Puntilla shouted.

What a mess with Mariana,

The one my buddy found himself in.

Help me, help me, help me,

Help me forget her.

What a mess with Mariana,

The one my buddy found himself in.

And he spent all morning,

Lighting little candles.

What a mess with Mariana,

The one my buddy found himself in.

Play it, Willie!

What a mess. Hhhheeeeeeeee!

Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico.

What a mess. Hhhheeeeeeeee!

Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico.

What a mess. Hhhheeeeeeeee!

Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico.

What a mess. Hhhheeeeeeeee!

Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico.

What a mess with Mariana,

The one my buddy found himself in.

(Instrumental)

(Instrumental)

(Instrumental)

[Spanish]

África

Que problema, caballero,

En el que me encuentro yo.

Decía Ramón puntilla,

Cuando a su mamá llamo.

Tengo un pollo sabrosito,

Con el que quiero casarme.

Pero acaban de informarme,

Que no, que no me puedo casar.

Por que, es novia de mi amigo,

Y eso si da que pensar.

Odio a todos los que aman,

Y que felices están.

Por que yooooooo...

No puedo tener,

Un amorcito que me comprenda,

Y que me diga papi y que me quiera bien.

Dios mió ayúdame,

Quiero olvidar.

Ayúdame, ayúdame.

Ayúdame a olvidarla te lo pido,

Ayúdame.

Hay que yo la quiero tanto,

Y no, y no la quiero perder.

Que problema con Mariana,

El que se encontró mi pana.

Y yo que me la pasaba gozando,

De la noche a la mañana.

Que problema con Mariana,

El que se encontró mi pana.

Ramón puntilla la quería,

Ramón puntilla gritaba.

Que problema con Mariana,

El que se encontró mi pana.

Ayúdame, ayúdame, ayúdame,

Ayúdame a olvidarla.

Que problema con Mariana,

El que se encontró mi pana.

Y se pasaba prendiendo velitas,

Toditita la mañana.

Que problema con Mariana,

El que se encontró mi pana.

Juega Willie!

Qué lío. ¡Hhhheeeeeeeee!

Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico.

Qué lío. ¡Hhhheeeeeeeee!

Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico.

Qué lío. ¡Hhhheeeeeeeee!

Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico.

Qué lío. ¡Hhhheeeeeeeee!

Chico, chico, chico, chico, chico, chico.

Que problema con Mariana,

El que se encontró mi pana

(Instrumental)

(Instrumental)

(Instrumental)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
problema proˈβlema B1	noun - problem
caballero kaβaˈʎeɾo A2	noun - gentleman, sir
sabrosito saβɾoˈsito A2	adjective - delicious, tasty
casarme kasaɾˈme A2	verb - to get married
informarme infoɾˈmaɾme B1	verb - to inform me
novia noˈβja A2	noun - girlfriend
odiar oˈðjaɾ B1	verb - to hate
amorcito amoɾˈsito A2	noun - sweetheart, little love
comprender kompɾenˈdeɾ B1	verb - to understand
ayudar aʝuˈðaɾ A2	verb - to help
olvidar olβiˈðaɾ B1	verb - to forget
querer keˈɾeɾ A2	verb - to love, to want
pana ˈpana A2	noun - friend, buddy
gozando ɣoˈθando B1	verb - enjoying
prendiendo pɾenˈdjendo B1	verb - lighting
velitas βeˈlitas A2	noun - little candles
lío ˈlio B1	noun - mess, trouble, affair

Key Grammar Structures

• Decía Ramón puntilla, Cuando a su mamá llamo.

  ➔ Preterite tense

  ➔ The verbs 'decía' and 'llamo' are in the preterite tense, indicating completed actions in the past.

• Tengo un pollo sabrosito, Con el que quiero casarme.

  ➔ Present tense with future intention

  ➔ The verb 'tengo' is in the present tense, but 'quiero casarme' expresses a future intention.

• Por que, es novia de mi amigo, Y eso si da que pensar.

  ➔ Present tense and conditional implication

  ➔ 'Es novia de mi amigo' is in the present tense, and 'eso si da que pensar' implies a conditional consequence.

• Odio a todos los que aman, Y que felices están.

  ➔ Present tense with contrasting conjunction

  ➔ The present tense verbs 'odio' and 'están' are connected by the contrasting conjunction 'y'.

• Ayúdame a olvidarla te lo pido, Ayúdame.

  ➔ Imperative mood with object pronoun

  ➔ The imperative verb 'ayúdame' is used with the object pronoun 'la' in 'olvidarla'.