Vas Bien

Annotation

El Gran Combo, a salsa group formed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1962, released the song "Vas bien" ("You're Doing Well") (Gema # LPG-3044), written by the band leader Rafael Ithier, and sung by Pellín Rodríguez - born 4 December 1926, Santurce, Puerto Rico; died 31 October 1984, San Juan, Puerto Rico - and Andy Montañez. This one took a more comic, novelty approach, about how his friends were being sent to Vietnam, and that he would not get caught up in the conflict. Originally released on a Cuban record label.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

Spanish: The one they took to Vietnam was Armando's son / And as a natural thing, he was trembling / Look for another man, I screamed in the middle of the race / Well, what is for me is not caught, nor tied up with chain, no way / That I don't go back there, that they take Cholo, that they take Manolo.... Spanish: "Al que se llevaron pa’ Vietnam fue al hijo de Armando / y como una cosa natural, él iba temblando / ¡Búsquese a otro hombre / Gritaba en plena carrera / Pues lo que es a mí no me cogen / Ni amarrao’ con cadena! ¡Qué va / Que yo no me vuelvo pa’ allá, que se lleven a Cholo / Que se lleven a Manolo / Que la guerra se hizo pal guapo, y yo de guapo no tengo na"

Notes

Gema Records LPG-3044, stereo, "Boogaloos con El Gran Combo"; cantan Pellín Rodríguez y Andy Montañez; arreglos y dirección de Rafael Ithier; Lado A track 3: "Vas Bien" – Guaracha (Rafael Ithier), 2:48 on the back cover; light blue label. Mftd. and dist. by Gema Records Corp., San Antonio No. 422, Santurce, Puerto Rico; distributed in the U.S.A. by Armada & Fernandez of Florida, Inc., Miami. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Formed 1962, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Themes

Home Front Perspective

In collections

US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years] · Puerto Rican Songs