"una escalera grande"

Question

How do you translate "una escalera grande" which is in this context:

"Para bailar La Bamba se necesita una escalera grande una escalera grande y otra chiquita"

I don't think one needs a ladder for dancing.

Thanks for all your help

Answer 1

I looked up various versions of the lyrics and Annie is correct:

Para subir al cielo

Para subir al cielo

Se necesita una escalera grande

Una escalera grande y otra chiquita

In order to go up and reach the sky

In order to go up and reach the sky

A long ladder is needed

A long ladder and a short ladder

Listening to the link provided, the singer sang it like this instead;

Para bailar La Bamba

Para bailar La Bamba

Se necesita una escalera grande

Una escalera grande y otra chiquita

The meaning would be the same, or maybe this artist's interpretation would be you need to get up (figuratively as in excited and the ladder would be metaphorical) to dance "La Bamba." Or maybe he just flubbed the lyrics

Ritchie Valen's version did not have the lines about the ladders. This instead;

for me, for you, ah up, ah up

ah, up, up

Para mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arriba

Ay, arriba arriba

Thank you for you kind investigation of the various lyrics. Being a well known, well like singer I think Helmut Lotti purposedly sang like that and so I should translate it figuratively as "you need to get up". - chantaneeyip, Jan 18, 2014

I agree. I found his version in print http://www.lyricsmania.com/la_bamba_lyrics_helmut_lotti.html - dennywells, Jan 18, 2014

He really has an incredible voice. Great singer. - dennywells, Jan 18, 2014

Answer 2

The line goes:

Para subir al cielo

Para subir al cielo

Se necesita una escalera larga

Y otra chiquita

Which means, roughtly:

To get up to Heaven,

you need a long ladder...

Here is the link to the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCAS_BL-b1g - chantaneeyip, Jan 18, 2014

The singer did not sing what you wrote. Only the ladder with no heaven. - chantaneeyip, Jan 18, 2014

The singer is Helmut Lotti. - chantaneeyip, Jan 18, 2014

Thanks for your kind investigation of the various lyrcs. Helmt Lotti is a very well known singer and he purposely sang like that. - chantaneeyip, Jan 18, 2014