Ay! San Miguel Lyrics in English by Romeo Santos, Prince Royce
Azabache means "jet," a black gemstone often worn as a protective talisman. It's a fantastic word to learn because of its deep cultural significance.
In this song, Romeo Santos sings "Ando con mi azabache y me protege a mí" (I walk with my jet stone and it protects me). This reflects a real belief in many Latin cultures where an azabache is used to ward off the "mal de ojo" (evil eye) and protect from jealousy.
Romeo Santos and Prince Royce unite for a track all about dodging bad vibes, spiritual warfare, and romantic jealousy. Right out of the gate, the song calls for rum with "Que saquen el romo" (Bring out the rum) and jumps straight into superstitious dread. A witch warns the singer that someone put a curse on his love life: "La bruja me lo dijo, me hicieron un hechizo / Con alfileres, clavando un muñequito" (The witch told me, they cast a spell on me / With pins, sticking a little doll). The imagery gets darkly funny as he mocks whoever tried to curse him by sacrificing farm animals: "Pobre gallina, se jodió el chivito / Lo sacrificaron, y ella y yo juntitos" (Poor chicken, the little goat got screwed / They sacrificed it, and she and I are still together).
Instead of stressing, the singers turn to spiritual armor to repel bad energy. The song leans heavily into Caribbean folk beliefs and Afro-Dominican syncretism, invoking Saint Michael the Archangel to shield the couple ("A mí me cuida San Miguel" [Saint Michael looks after me]) alongside Jesus and protective amulets. You will hear Prince Royce warn about bitter onlookers by singing, "Ando con mi azabache y me protege a mí" (I walk with my jet stone amulet and it protects me). An azabache is a jet-black stone traditionally worn in Hispanic cultures to ward off the evil eye. The best burn comes when Romeo prays for his haters: "Dios mío, dale salud a mis envidiosos / Pa' que me vean vencer" (My God, give health to my envious enemies / So they can watch me win). It is a petty, confident prayer wrapped in smooth Bachata guitars.
