Guaracha - Lyrics

Lyrics

The use of lyrics in theatre music is common, but their use in popular dance music was not common in the 18th and 19th centuries. Only the habanera had sung lyrics, and the guaracha definitely predates the habanera by some decades. Therefore, the guaracha is the first Cuban creole dance music which included singers.

The Havana Diario de la Marina of 1868 says: "The bufo troupe, we think, has an extensive repertory of tasty guarachas, with which to keep its public happy, better than the Italian songs." The lyrics were full of slang, and dwelt on events and people in the news. Rhythmically, guaracha exhibits a series of rhythm combinations, such as 6/8 with 2/4.

Alejo Carpentier quotes a number of guaracha verses which illustrate the style:

Mi marido se murió,

Dios en el cielo lo tiene

y que lo tenga tan tenido

que acá jamás nunca vuelva.

(My husband died,

God in heaven has him;

May he keep him so well

That he never comes back!)

₪₪₪₪₪

No hay mulata más hermosa.

más pilla y más sandunguera,

ni que tenga en la cadera

más azúcar que mi Rosa.

(There's no mulatta more gorgeous,

more wicked and more spicy,

nor one whose hips have got

more sugar than my Rosa!)