La Bamba lyrics

I have no intention of translation the entire song but some of the translation here is abominable and simplistic. Spanish is not my mother tongue but I learned it in Mexico as a young man. I then married a Mexican girl and we have two children both fluent in both languages and a granddaughter who can speak and read it as well. I worked in part as an interpreter, which is translating live and off the cuff as opposed to written translating, which gives one time to correct and tweak ones work.

Para bailar La Bamba
Para bailar La Bamba
Se necesita un poca de gracia

To dance the bamba
To dance the bamba
You need some natural ability

I defend this using references from two dictionaries.

Gracia: Habilidad de una persona para realizar algo con naturalidad, elegancia, soltura, armonía, etc. bailar con gracia, cantar con gracia http://diccionario.sensagent.com/

My second reference is from the Pequño Larousse (1948 ed.)
Gracia: Atractivo que tienen ciertas personas en sus acciones y fisonomía: andar con gracia.

Like English, words in Spanish can have many meanings and we understand them by their context.

Una poca de gracia,
Para mí, para ti, ay arriba, ay arriba,
Ay arriba, arriba.

A little natural ability,
For you and for me, come on, let’s go!
Let’s go!

Yes, arriba means up or upstairs. But it is an idiomatic expression, and when used so carries a different meaning. Again I defend my translation quoting my Pequeño Larousse.

¡Arriba!: interjección Se emplea para mandar a uno que se levante o para excitar a que haga algo.

Por ti seré por ti seré.

I will be for you
Alternative: I will be yours (this works better in English and has the same meaning.)

This translation is literal and I see no need to defend it.
As for the rest I have neither the time nor inclination to translate it. For the most part the correct meaning comes through.
It is a great song, a traditional Mexican folk song turned into a wonderful Rock and Roll tune. Thanks Ritchie

J A Williams
jamesjaw@telus.net

That's a pretty literal (read: rigid and boring) translation. It's not like you're translating a legal document;it's rock and roll, for god's sake. Really, it should be:

To dance la Bamba
To dance la Bamba
You need a little grace
A little grace for me, for you
Oh! Faster and faster (or "higher and higher" if you prefer [that is, it's a command to dance recklessly--so take your pick)
I'll be yours, I'll be yours

I'm no sailor! I'm no sailor!
I'm the captain!
(...and so on)

You'd put people to sleep with your words.

wow lol
this song is old
i havent heard this in forever lol woah!

did u know that this song is on the top 100 board? its #68

La Bamba

Para bailar la bamba In order to dance “The Bamba”
Para bailar la bamba In order to dance “The Bamba”
Se necesita una poca de gracia One needs a little grace
Una poca de gracia pa mi pa ti A bit of grace, for me, for you
Y arriba y arriba And higher and higher
Ay arriba y arriba Higher and higher
Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere For you I’ll be, for you I’ll be

Yo no soy marinero I am not a sailor
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan I am not a sailor, I am captain
Soy capitan, soy capitan I am captain, I am captain

Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba

Para bailar la bamba In order to dance “The Bamba”
Para bailar la bamba In order to dance “The Bamba”
Se necesita una poca de gracia One needs a little grace
Una poca de gracia pa mi pa ti A bit of grace, for me, for you
Ay y arriba y arriba And higher and higher

Para bailar la bamba In order to dance “The Bamba”
Para bailar la bamba In order to dance “The Bamba”
Se necesita una poca de gracia One needs a little grace
Una poca de gracia pa mi pa ti A bit of grace, for me, for you
Y arriba y arriba And higher and higher
Ay arriba y arriba Higher and higher
Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere For you I’ll be, for you I’ll be

Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba
Bamba, bamba