Sangrigorda – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe
• Album: Cosa Nuestra

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of New York salsa with 'Sangrigorda.' This song is a perfect gateway to learning colloquial Spanish and the rhythmic slang of the Caribbean diaspora, showcasing the legendary chemistry between Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe.

[English]

Hey, stubborn soul

You can't just push him aside

Hey, stubborn soul

If you don't want the Black man anymore

Listen, look, stubborn soul

You can't just push him aside

Oh, but look at my mulata

If you don't want, if you don't want the Black man anymore

Hey, stubborn soul

You can't just push him aside

Hey, stubborn soul

If you don't want the Black man anymore

That dark-skinned man loves you

I'm telling his mother

Now he spends his time crying

Always moping around and doesn't want to come over here

Hey, Quiriquí, get your handkerchief

Light the cigar, look, I'm falling for you

Hey, Quiriquí, get your handkerchief

Light the cigar, look, I'm falling for you

Take out your red handkerchief

And come, come over here

Oh, go on, light the cigar

And keep it going, I'll wait for you on the corner

Hey, Quiriquí, get your handkerchief

Light the cigar, look, I'm falling for you

Hey, Quiriquí, get your handkerchief

Light the cigar, look, I'm falling for you

And if Quiriquí you want, if Quiriquí you want

If Quiriquí you want to love him

That dark-skinned man is truly a good one

He lights four candles and prays for you

Go back to him, I beg you

Oh, chamalapias

Oh, chamalapias

Oh, chamalapias

Oh, chamalapias

Oh, chamalapias

Oh, chamalapias

...

[Spanish]

Eh, sangre gorda

Tú no puedes arroyar

Eh, sangre gorda

Si no quiere' al negro ya

Oye mira, sangre gorda

Tú no puedes arroyar

Ay, pero mira mi mulata

Si no quiere', si no quiere' al negro ya

Eh, sangre gorda

Tú no puedes arroyar

Eh, sangre gorda

Si no quiere' al negro ya

Ese prieto a ti te quiere

Se lo digo a su mamá

Ahora se pasa llorando

Y siempre está guachinando y no quiere venir pa' acá

Eh, Quiriquí, saca el pañuelo

Prende el tabaco, mira que voy pa'l suelo

Eh, Quiriquí, saca el pañuelo

Prende el tabaco, mira que voy pa'l suelo

Saca tu pañuelo rojo

Y vente, vente pa' acá

Ay, vete, prende el tabaco

Y dale que dale, en la esquina te vo' a esperar

Eh, Quiriquí, saca el pañuelo

Prende el tabaco, mira que voy pa'l suelo

Eh, Quiriquí, saca el pañuelo

Prende el tabaco, mira que voy pa'l suelo

Y si Quiriquí tú quere', que si Quiriquí tú quere'

Que si Quiriquí tú quiere' quererlo

Ese prieto sí que es bueno

Él te prende cuatro velas y reza por ti

Vuelve con él, te lo ruego

Ay, chamalapias

Ay, chamalapias

Ay, chamalapias

Ay, chamalapias

Ay, chamalapias

Ay, chamalapias

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Sangre sangre A2	noun - Blood
Gorda gorda A1	adjective - Fat / Thick
Arroyar arroyar C2	verb - To join a parade or street dance (colloquial Caribbean)
Negro negro A1	noun - Black man
Mulata mulata B2	noun - Mulatto woman
Prieto prieto B2	adjective - Dark-skinned / Black
Llorando llorando A2	verb - Crying
Guachinando guachinando C2	verb - Wandering around / Aimless behavior
Pañuelo pañuelo A2	noun - Handkerchief
Tabaco tabaco A2	noun - Tobacco / Cigar
Suelo suelo A1	noun - Ground / Floor
Esquina esquina A2	noun - Corner
Velas velas A2	noun - Candles
Reza reza A2	verb - To pray
Ruego ruego B2	verb - To beg / To plead

Key Grammar Structures

• Tú no puedes arroyar

  ➔ Modal verb 'poder' + infinitive

  ➔ Used to express lack of ability or permission. Here, "puedes" indicates the subject's inability to perform the action.

• Si no quiere' al negro ya

  ➔ Conditional 'Si' clause (Real condition)

  ➔ The 'si' clause (if) sets a condition in the present indicative, indicating a possible situation.

• Ese prieto a ti te quiere

  ➔ Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns

  ➔ Includes the use of 'te' (indirect object) and the emphasis implied by the word order.

• Se lo digo a su mamá

  ➔ Combined object pronouns (se lo)

  ➔ When both indirect and direct objects are pronouns, the indirect 'le/les' changes to 'se' before 'lo/la'.

• Ahora se pasa llorando

  ➔ Periphrasis: 'Pasar' + gerund

  ➔ Used to describe an action that occurs over a continuous period of time.

• Saca tu pañuelo

  ➔ Imperative (Tú form)

  ➔ The affirmative command for the second person singular "tú" uses the third-person singular present indicative form.

• Mira que voy pa'l suelo

  ➔ Interjection 'Mira que' + Indicative

  ➔ Used as a warning or to draw attention to a situation, often followed by an indicative clause.

• Vuelve con él

  ➔ Imperative (Tú form - irregular)

  ➔ The imperative of 'volver' (to return) in the "tú" form is irregular: 'vuelve'.