Vieja Luna

Celia was Celia--of that, there is no doubt.

Who, however, was Juan Orlando de la Rosa Valenzuela? Yes, he was the Cuban composer of this beautiful bolero. He was born in 1919 and only lived to be 37 years old. During his short life, he was an accomplished pianist, having played with the famous Lecuona. He helped to launch the careers of Elena Burke and Omara Portuondo in his group, El Cuarteto Orlando de la Rosa. He helped to form a genre, contributing prolifically to the Golden Age of the Bolero, composing classic songs like “Cansancio”, “Mi corazón es para ti”, “Qué emoción”, “Nuestras vidas”, “Si te dicen”, “No vale la pena”, and, of course, “Vieja luna”.

Here are the lyrics:

Quiero escaparme con la vieja luna,
en el momento en que la noche muere;
cuando se asoma la sonrisa blanca,
en la mañana de mi adversidad.

Quiero volver a revivir la noche,
porque la vieja luna volverá;
ella es quien sabe donde esta mi amor,
ella sabe si es que la perdí;
vieja luna que en la noche va.