Originale | Traduzione inglese di Barbara Dane dal disco collettivo ”Canción... |
LAS COPLAS DEL PAJARITO | THE LITTLE BIRD’S COMPLAINT |
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En la rama de un nopal | Up in the branch of a cactus |
se quejaba un pajarito: | a little bird was complaining: |
“Todos quieren gobernar | “Everyone wants to be rulers, |
con cadenas y con grillos.” | rulers with chains and with shackles.” |
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Ay sí, ay no, | Oh yes, oh no, |
pajarito de mi corazón. | dear little bird of my heart, |
Ay sí, ay no, | oh yes, oh no, |
pajarito lleno de dolor. | little bird so full of pain. |
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Hermanos americanos, | Latin American brothers, |
levantemos la cabeza | lift up your heads and be proud. |
y pidamos a los hombres | And let’s demand from “the man” |
que se cumplan las promesas. | all if our promises filled. |
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Hermanos americanos, | Latin American brothers, |
nuestras tierras no son pobres | our land is not so poor! |
pero vienen desde lejos | But they come here from far away, |
y nos dejan sin un cobre. | and leave us without a penny! |
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Ay sí, ay no, | Oh yes, oh no, |
pajarito de mi corazón. | dear little bird of my heart, |
Ay sí, ay no, | oh yes, oh no, |
pajarito lleno de dolor. | little bird so full of pain. |
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Cuando un pobre pide ayuda | When a poor person asks for help, |
se la niegan al momento. | they deny it on the spot. |
Le cuentan tantas historias | They tell him so many stories |
que el pobre se va contento. | that he goes away thinking he’s happy. |
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Y si hay que pagar impuestos | And if there’s taxes to pay, |
mandarán primero al pobre | they send forst to the poor. |
que el rico se está ocupando | The rich man is very busy, |
de echar dinero en un sobre. | hiding his dough under cover. |
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Ay sí, ay no, | Oh yes, oh no, |
pajarito de mi corazón. | dear little bird of my heart, |
Ay sí, ay no, | oh yes, oh no, |
pajarito lleno de dolor. | little bird so full of pain. |
| |
La patria pide a sus hijos | The nation demands of its sons |
el respeto y la cordura. | respect and prudent wisdom. |
Los hijos dan a la patria | The sons give back to their country |
gobernantes de piel dura. | governors with very thick skins. |
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En la rama de un nopal | Up in the branch of a cactus |
el pajarito no canta. | the little bird sings no more. |
¡De mirar tanta injusticia | From looking at so much injustice |
se le secó la garganta! | his little throat has gone dry! |