“Despacito” is a song about being intimate with a special person and slowing down the relationship so you can enjoy it to the fullest.
The English translation of the song’s title is “Slowly,” which could mean any number of things, but once you know all the lyrics, it paints a fairly racey picture. The origins of the idea came to Luis Fonsi all at once during one fateful morning in 2015.
Certain bits of the words had cropped up and helped him work out key rhymes, such as “Despacito,” “Puerto Rico” and “bendito.” He filled it out from there, and rushed into the studio so he could lay down the idea before it went forgotten.
The main theme of “Despacito,” as the title says, is to literally take it slow and enjoy life a bit more. The lyrics are a plea not to rush through a relationship so quickly so you can make the night last a little bit longer.
Luis Fonsi said in a YouTube video that it’s about taking the time to savor every moment you get to share with that person.
He worked on the song with Erica Ender one afternoon. Their work was done after about four hours and plenty of drinks along the way.
As Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee trade stanzas back and forth, an intimate tale starts to come together. Translated into English, the opening lyrics read:
“Yes, you know that I’ve been looking at you for a long time / I must dance with you today”
Right off the bat, the narrator makes it clear that he’s been paying attention to the object of his affections for a while now. At this point, it feels essential that they finally dance together.
“I saw that the look in your eyes was calling me / Show me the path that I’ll take”
Based on the way that the person was looking at the narrator, he took that as a sign that it was time to move forward. He looks into that person’s eyes to discover the best next steps.
“You, you’re the magnet and I’m the metal / I’m getting closer and making a plan / Simply thinking about it makes my heart race”
The simple analogy of magnetization comes into play here to describe the narrator’s feelings for the person he’s singing to. He’s taking steps to bring the relationship to fruition, but it’s causing a great deal of anxiety.
“Now, I already like it more than usual / All my senses are asking for more / We can’t do this in a rush”
These lines cover the temptation to speed through an enjoyable relationship. Just like candy, it’s all too easy to have too much of a good thing when it tastes exceptionally sweet to you.
“Slowly / I want to breathe in your neck slowly / Let me murmur things in your ear / So that you remember if you’re not with me”
The singer’s intentions are no longer masked in metaphor here. At this point, the narrator explicitly states his desire to get intimate with the person he’s singing to. He hopes that their physical closeness leaves a lasting impression that will keep him on the person’s mind.
Lyrics
¡Ay!
Fonsi, DY
Oh, oh no, oh no (oh)
Hey yeah
Diridiri, dirididi Daddy
Go!
Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote
Tengo que bailar contigo hoy (DY)
Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome
Muéstrame el camino que yo voy
Oh, tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal
Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan
Solo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso (oh yeah)
Ya, ya me estás gustando más de lo normal
Todos mis sentidos van pidiendo más
Esto hay que tomarlo sin ningún apuro
Despacito
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito
Deja que te diga cosas al oído
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo
Despacito
Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito
Firmar las paredes de tu laberinto
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito (sube, sube, sube)
(Sube, sube) Oh
Quiero ver bailar tu pelo
Quiero ser tu ritmo (uh oh, uh oh)
Que le enseñes a mi boca (uh oh, uh oh)
Tus lugares favoritos (favoritos, favoritos baby)
Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro (uh oh, uh oh)
Hasta provocar tus gritos (uh oh, uh oh)
Y que olvides tu apellido (dirididi Daddy)
Yo sé que estás pensándolo (eh)
Llevo tiempo intentándolo (eh)
Mami, esto es dando y dándolo
Sabes que tu corazón conmigo te hace bam bam
Sabe que esa beba ‘tá buscando de mi bam bam
Ven prueba de mi boca para ver cómo te sabe
Quiero, quiero, quiero ver cuánto amor a ti te cabe
Yo no tengo prisa, yo me quiero dar el viaje
Empezamo’ lento, después salvaje
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando poquito a poquito
Cuando tú me besas con esa destreza
Veo que eres malicia con delicadeza
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito (oh oh)
Y es que esa belleza es un rompecabezas (oh no)
Pero pa’ montarlo aquí tengo la pieza (slow, oh yeah)
Despacito (yeh, yo)
Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito (yo)
Deja que te diga cosas al oído (yo)
Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo
Despacito
Quiero desnudarte a besos despacito (yeh)
Firmar las paredes de tu laberinto
Y hacer de tu cuerpo todo un manuscrito (sube, sube, sube)
(Sube, sube) Oh
Quiero ver bailar tu pelo
Quiero ser tu ritmo (uh oh, uh oh)
Que le enseñes a mi boca (uh oh, uh oh)
Tus lugares favoritos (favoritos, favoritos baby)
Déjame sobrepasar tus zonas de peligro (uh oh, uh oh)
Hasta provocar tus gritos (uh oh, uh oh)
Y que olvides tu apellido
Despacito
Vamo’ a hacerlo en una playa en Puerto Rico
Hasta que las olas griten “Ay, bendito”
Para que mi sello se quede contigo (báilalo)
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito (hey yeah, yeah)
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito (oh no)
Que le enseñes a mi boca (uh oh, uh oh)
Tus lugares favoritos (favoritos, favoritos baby)
Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito
Nos vamos pegando, poquito a poquito
Hasta provocar tus gritos (eh-oh) (Fonsi)
Y que olvides tu apellido (DY)
Despacito
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Erika Ender / Luis Fonsi / Ramon Ayala
Despacito lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
Listeners of Latin music, might also appreciate the song Gasolina by Daddy Yankee
