Tropicollage

He left in a Habanauto
heading to Varadero
chillin' on the sand
smokin' a cigar,
took a few selfies
leaning against a palm tree.

He went back to Habana Libre
rented a tourist taxi
to go to Tropicana
then to the airport and
that’s how he left thinking
he really knew Havana.

That guy paid the bill
that was draining me,
but in the Polaroid
and in his head he carries
tropicollage, collage, collage...

He didn’t go to Old Havana
never saw the neighborhoods
of workers and believers.
He didn’t take any pics
on the reefs
where there’s a sea of people.

He didn’t see the builders
brick and rum
cementing the future.
He didn’t bump into
one of those guys
who give you five for one.

That’s my country too
and I can’t forget it
and whoever wants to deny it
in their head carries tropicollage,
collage, collage...
Tropicollage, tropicollage,
collage, collage...

And to the naysayers
who are listening to me
think about what I’m saying
I know that currency
makes the economy
like wheat makes the bread.

But what I don’t get
is that for the money
they confuse the people
if you go to the hotels
for not being a foreigner
they treat you different.

That’s already happening here
and I want to change it
of course, and whoever wants to deny it
in their head carries tropicollage.
collage, collage...
Tropicollage, collage,
tropicollage, collage...

They want to take my country
in a Cubalse bag
one of those that say in English
that you can buy easily
this city doesn’t fit in a photo
from a Paris calendar.

People are inventing antennas
to watch Canal del Sol,
it’s that tropicollage
likes to be on TV.
"Easy shopping", tropicollage...
"Easy shopping", tropicollage...