LA DICHA MIA
(Johnny Pacheco)

Celia Cruz



Lucky me to be born in Havana,
And there I became a singer of songs.
Fate led me to the great mamboleros,
In all of Cuba the toast of the town.
Singing at the Tropicana,
My fantasies finally came true--
Imagine going to New York,
Seeing the great ones fill my heart and soul.

We saw Arsenio with his swinging band,
Arsenio Rodriguez, that magical man.
I took the subway to El Barrio,
Got hugs and kisses from mi gente--
Lucky me, I saw Machito,
Ay Dios Mio, El Exelente.
Listening to Machito, dancing, drinking vino,
Machito was for us El Campesi Latino.

We made it to the Palladium,
It didn't disappoint at all--
Had a ball with Tito Puente,
Tito Puente, the king of them all.
With Tito Puente, your feet started to dance,
El Rey Tito Puente created a trance.

Then, when Tito finished playing,
How could anything fill the lull?
--Surprise! Came Tito Rodriguez
With his Conjunto to top it all.
Better two Titos than only one,
Better for dancing, and also for fun.

El Senor me dio la dicha de grabar con Tito Puente,
Y cantar con Tito Rodriguez.
(Esa dicha me la dio Senor)
Ven a gozar con la dicha, a gozar con la dicha.
(Esa dicha me la dio Senor)
Ay yo le Canto a Yemaya a Oshun y a Obatala
(Esa dicha me la dio Senor)
Y al que Dios se lo dio, San Pedro se lo bendiga.

[The Lord gave me the good fortune to record with Tito Puente 
and sing with Tito Rodriguez. Come on, rejoice in my good fortune, 
rejoice in my good fortune. I'm singing to Yemaya, Oshun, 
and Obatala {Afro-Latin deities}. 
And everything God gave me, Saint Peter blessed it.]




(Transcribed by Emiliano M.A. & Mel Priddle - July 2005 updated Jan. 2011)