Arroz Con Habichuela

Rice with Beans

Arroz Con Habichuela

This is not what you thinkEsto no es lo que tú piensas
Don't go throwing yourselfNo te vayas a tirar
If you didn't learn thoroughlySi no aprendiste a conciencia
The key will knock you downLa clave te va a tumbar

This has its little trickEsto tiene su truquito
This is not hit and runEsto no es llegué y pegué
This takes its years, RafaelEsto lleva sus añitos, Rafael
To touch as it shouldPa' tocarse como es

This is not A and BEsto no es la A y la B
This goes all the way to ZEsto llega hasta la Z
This is not mom, dad, and babyEsto no es mamá, papá y nené
This is the complete lessonEsta es la lección completa

This doesn't come in booksEsto no viene en los libros
It's not taught in the academyNo se enseña en la academia
This is little by littleEsto es poquito a poquito
Then effort is rewardedLuego el esfuerzo se premia

Four decades, Gran Combo in the kitchenCuatro décadas, Gran Combo en la cocina
Cooking Salsa for the Latin peopleCocinando Salsa para la gente latina
(This is not a light salad)(Esto no es ensaladita light)
(Rice with beans and root vegetables, that's what there is)(Arroz con habichuela y vianda, es lo que hay)

No, it's not a diet light saladNo, no es ensaladita Light de dieta
Ask Juan José, who brought the recipePregúntale a Juan José, que trajo la receta
(This is not a light salad)(Esto no es ensaladita light)
(Rice with beans and root vegetables, that's what there is)(Arroz con habichuela y vianda, es lo que hay)

It's the cadence of elegant Cuban SonEs la cadencia del Son de Cuba elegante
And the Swing of New York always moving forwardY el Swing de Nueva York siempre pa'lante
(This is not a light salad)(Esto no es ensaladita light)
(Rice with beans and root vegetables, that's what there is)(Arroz con habichuela y vianda, es lo que hay)

Flavor, flavor, flavor of the old schoolSabor, sabor, sabor de la vieja escuela
(Rice with beans and root vegetables, that's what there is)(Arroz con habichuela y vianda, es lo que hay)
Caribbean Salsa, rumba, plenaSalsa caribeña, rumba, plena
(Rice with beans and root vegetables, that's what there is)(Arroz con habichuela y vianda, es lo que hay)

It's not learned, not even in the finest academyNo se aprende, ni en la academia más fina
(Rice with beans and root vegetables, that's what there is)(Arroz con habichuela y vianda, es lo que hay)
In the street, street, street, corner partyEn la calle, calle, calle, rumbón de esquina
(Rice with beans and root vegetables, that's what there is)(Arroz con habichuela y vianda, es lo que hay)

I bring sweet syrup, how rich, how tasty the beatTraigo melao, qué rico, qué sabroso el tumba'o
(Rice with beans and root vegetables, that's what there is)(Arroz con habichuela y vianda, es lo que hay)
Timbales, bongos, cowbell, conga (That's what there is)Timbón, bongón, campana, conga (Lo que hay)
Ingredients for the stew (That's what there is)Ingredientes pa'l sancocho (Esto es lo que hay)

Chef Rafael prepares us deliciously (That's what there is)El chef Rafael nos prepara sabroso (Lo que hay)
With firewood and microwave (That's what there is)Con leña y con microonda (Esto es lo que hay)
The winds are going to play (That's what there is)Los vientos van a tocar (Lo que hay)

Bass and piano accompanying (That's what there is)Bajo piano acompañando (Esto es lo que hay)
It's Gran Combo preparing (That's what there is)Es el Gran Combo preparando (Lo que hay)
The musical feast (That's what there is)El banquete musical (Esto es lo que hay)