El Chico Del Apartamento 512 Lyrics in English by Selena
Rabos verdes literally translates to "green tails", but it's a colorful Mexican idiom for lecherous or dirty old men. The phrase compares them to old parrots who can still talk but are no longer in their prime.
In the song, Selena comically brushes off unwanted attention, singing "le digo que no me caen los viejos rabos verdes" (I tell him I don't like dirty old men). Learning this playful slang is a fun way to understand the sassy personality in the lyrics and add some authentic flavor to your Spanish!
This song tells a complete story about having a massive crush, and it's got a plot twist worthy of a movie! Selena sings about her daily walk to her apartment, which is an obstacle course of unwanted attention. She gets whistled at by a guy she thinks should "ir y darse un baño" [go take a bath] and hit on by an old man she calls a "rabo verde" [a dirty old man]. She's totally unimpressed by any of them.
That's because all her attention is on one person: "El chico del apartamento cinco doce" [The guy from apartment 512]. He's the one who makes her "pobre corazón saltar" [poor heart jump] and even makes her stutter. She writes him letters day and night that she's too nervous to deliver. Finally, she works up the courage to go to his door and confess everything. But when she knocks, a blonde woman answers, and Selena's heart breaks. Just when you think it's all over, the woman asks, "¿Buscabas a mi hermano?" [Were you looking for my brother?]. It's his sister! There's still hope after all.
