Tiburón

Song category: 
Bottomliner: 
Miriam

Tiburón ("Shark") is a song by Panamanian singer Rubén Blades, written as a criticism of the intervention of imperialist powers in Latin America.

In this video, Rubén Blades explains why he wrote the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOzU1KD3Hsw

A recording by Willie Colon and Rubén Blades:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kW6K3F-KZU

Tiburón

Ruge la mar embravecida
Rompe la ola desde el horizonte
Brilla el verde azul del gran Caribe
Con la majestad que el sol inspira
El peje guerrero va pasando
Recorriendo el reino que domina
Pobre del que caiga prisionero
Hoy no habrá perdón para su vida

Es el tiburón que va buscando
Es el tiburón que nunca duerme
Es el tiburón que va asechando
Es el tiburón de mala suerte

Y se traga el sol el horizonte
Y el nervioso mar se va calmando
Se oyen los arrullos de sirena
Embobando al cielo con su canto

Brillan las estrellas en la noche
La nube viajera va flotando
La luna reposa entre el silencio
De ese gran Caribe descansando

Sólo el tiburón sigue despierto
Sólo el tiburón sigue buscando
Sólo el tiburón sigue intranquilo
Sólo el tiburón sigue asechando

Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?,
Tiburón qué buscas en la arena?
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Tiburón, lo tuyo es mar afuera.
Tiburón que buscas en la orilla
Eh Tiburón el canto de sirena
Tiburón que buscas en la orilla?
Tiburón, serpiente marinera
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Tiburón, ay, tú nunca te llenas
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla
Tiburón cuidado con la ballena
Tiburón qué buscas en la orilla?
Tiburón, respeta mi bandera

Palo pa' que aprenda que aquí sí hay honor
Pa' que vea que en el Caribe no se duerme el camarón
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Vamo' a darle duro, sin vacilación
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
En la unión está la fuerza y nuestra salvación
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Qué bonita bandera! qué bonita bandera!
Si lo ven que viene palo al tiburón
Si lo tuyo es mar afuera qué buscas aquí so ladrón?
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Hay que dar la cara y darla con valor
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Pa' que no se coma a nuestra hermana El Salvador

Vamo' a darle duro sin vacilación
En la unión esta la fuerza y nuestra salvación
Si lo ven que viene palo al Tiburón
Pónganle un letrero que diga en esta playa sólo se habla español
Si lo ven que viene palo al Tiburón
Si lo ven que viene no se duerman mis hermanos, pongan atención
Si lo ven que viene palo al Tiburón
Palo palo pa palo pa' que aprenda que aquí sí hay honor
Si lo ven que viene palo al Tiburón
Pa' que vea que en el Caribe no se duerme el camarón
Si lo ven que viene palo al tiburón
Pa' que no se coma a nuestra hermana El Salvador
Si lo ven que viene, palo al tiburón
Y luego a trabajar en la reconstrucción

Shark

The wild ocean roars
The waves romp from the horizon
The green-blue of the great Caribbean shines
With the same majesty as the sun
The warrior fish walks by
Travelling around the kingdom he dominates
I pity whoever is taken as a prisoner
His life will not be spared today

It's the shark who's going looking
It's the shark who never sleeps
It's the shark who keeps hunting
It's the shark who brings bad luck

And the sun swallows the horizon
And the nervous ocean becomes tranquil
And the mermaids haunt the sky
With their lullabies

The stars shine in the night
The sailing moon floats by
The moon sleeps when the great Caribbean
Rests and becomes silent

Only the shark remains awake
Only the shark keeps looking
Only the shark remains restless
Only the shark keeps hunting

Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, what are you looking for in the sand?
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, you should be in the high sea
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Hey shark, the mermaid's song
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, sea serpent
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, you are never satisfied
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, beware of the whale
Shark, what are you looking for in the shore?
Shark, respect my flag

Fight the shark, so he can learn that there's honour in this land
So he can see that in the Caribbean the shrimp doesn't sleep
If you see the shark coming, fight him
Let's hit him hard without hesitation
If you see the shark coming, fight him
Our union will be our strength and our only salvation
If you see the shark coming, fight him
What a lovely flag, what a lovely flag
If you see the shark coming, fight him
You belong in the high sea, what are you doing here, thief?
If you see the shark coming, fight him
We have to face him, and face him bravely
If you see the shark coming, fight him
So our sister El Salvador doesn't get eaten

Hit him hard without hesitation
In union there is strength and our salvation
If you see the shark coming, fight him
Put up a sign saying that on this beach only Spanish is spoken
If you see the shark coming, fight him
If you see the shark coming, don't sleep my brothers, pay attention
If you see the shark coming, fight him
Hit hit hit hit hit so he learns that here there is honor
If you see the shark coming, fight him
So he can see that in the Caribbean the shrimp doesn't sleep
If you see the shark coming, fight him
So our sister El Salvador doesn't get eaten
If you see the shark coming, fight him
And then get to work to rebuild

(Based on translation by Gerardo A on jazzcorner.com)