joni mitchell
the tenth world
Baila mi rumba Batela, goza why mira mama Baila, mira mama Batela, goza, mira eh Rumbando bello es que yo voy Bailala bailala bailala Bailala baila baila Eh eh mama [??????] Baila baila my rumbo[?] Ele eh ele eh Bailala bailala baila Din din baragadin dan dan [this is onomatopoeia] Baila baila baila baila Venezolano en Nueva York En California why en todos lados Te la traigo Para que vos...para que gozes gozes cosa buena Gozes con todo el mundo El africano why todo el mundo Bailala Bailala Bailala Bailala Bailala Gringos! Izquierdo! Izquierdo! Vamos, oye! [onomatopoeic sounds, interjections, sighs, whistling, bits of dialogue among the musicians that sound like instructions or encouragement to keep on playing and dancing] Me voy Me voy Me voy Me voy Me voy Me voy Me voy Me voy [More chanting and onomatopoeia] [Translation:] Dance to my rumba Beat it [maybe a drum?], enjoy, look mama [maybe meaning "look at me and learn the steps."] Dance, look mama Beat it, enjoy, look Dancing the rumba beautifully. That's how I go. Hey hey mama Dance to it, dance Dance Dance this way [This a tentative translation, the expression I hear is actually unidiomatic] Dance to it, dance A Venezuelan in New York [maybe referring to himself] In California and everywhere I bring it to you [the rumba] So that you will enjoy a good thing Enjoy it with the rest of the world With the African and the rest of the world Dance to it Gringos! [This is funny. "Gringo" is a pejorative way that some South Americans have to refer to Anglo-Saxons. It's clear that some Americans are actually dancing to the music in the studio and receiving instructions from the singer, including this veiled semi-insult. Was Joni there too?] Left! Left! [maybe meaning use your left foot now] I say, Come on! I'm going now! [Or it could also be I'm "coming"!]