The great songs of Mexico are an expression of the life and feelings of the people of Mexico. They are usually sung with great feeling and express the enthusiasm, sadness or the love of the composer who wrote them. Each one is different as each author is different but as a whole they give us a flavor of the people of Mexico. Whether performed or sung by a big Mariachi Band or sung in the still of the night in two-part harmony just to let out the feelings of the soul, they always bring strong feelings and make us want to join in and harmonize. I am talking about the old classical songs that endure through the years and are remembered because of their beautiful music and lyrics. These contain so many descriptive phrases and expressions typical of Mexican poetry.
An example of this is and Old song that in a few words
pictures a tender love scene.
"Una noche serena y obscura cuando en silencio juramos los dos.
Cuando en silencio me diste la mano, de testigo pusimos a Dios".
Of course in translation much is lost:
On a dark and serene night in silence we promised each other.
In silence you gave me your hand and we placed God as our
witness.
There are so many descriptive phrases: Tiene ojos de lucero y Capulin. Tranlation: she has eyes like stars and black cherries.
There are the old love songs that express love in descriptive and noble terms. Then there are the "corridos" or Ballads that tell of tragic happenings stories of historical events. Then there are others that express love of place of birth and home. Such as:
CANCION NUXTECA
"Que lejos estoy del suelo donde he nacido.
Inmensa nostalgia invade mi pensamiento.
Al verme tan solo y triste cual hoja al viento,
quisiera Ilorar quisiera morir de sentimiento.
O tierra del Sol suspiro por verte, ahora que lejos yo vivo sin luz
sin amor.
Al verme tan solo y triste cual hoja al viento,
quisiera Ilorar quisiera morir de sentimiento".
Translation: I am so far away from the place of my
birth.
A great nostalgia invades my mind and heart.
As I find myself so alone and sad as a leaf in the wind.
I would like to cry I would like to die of sad emotion.
Oh land of the Sun I sigh to see you,
and now so far away I live without light and without love.
As I find myself so alone and sad as a leaf in the wind
I would like to cry I would like to die of sad emotion.
Another expression from "MEXICO LINDO Y QUERIDO".
Diles que estoy dormido y que me traigan aquí,
Mexico lindo y querido si muero lejos de ti.
(Tell them I am asleep and have them bring me here,
My beloved and beautiful Mexico if I die far away from thee.)
I always loved the old songs of goodbye: These songs remind me of the old saying in Spanish: " El que mucho se despide pocas ganas tiene de ir." (He who prolongs his goodbyes doesn't really want to go. ) Some examples of these songs are:
ADIOS MI CHAPARRITA
"Adios mi chaparrita no Ilores por tu Pancho
que si se va del rancho muy pronto volverá.
Veras que del vajío te trairá cosas buenas,
mil besos pa tus penas que muy pronto olvidarás.
Dos moñitos pa tus trensas y pa tu Mamacita,
reboso de bolita y sus naguas de percal.
Ay que Caray!!
Translation:
Goodbye My (Chaparrita) beloved short one don't cry for your
Pancho.
If he leaves our ranch he will very soon return.
You'll see the he will bring you from the valley,
a thousand kisses for your fears and troubles that you will soon
forget.
Two bows for your long Braids, and for your dear little mother,
a shawl with little balls and a bunting skirt.
AY QUE CARAY!
Another song I love to sing is:
LA BARCA DE ORO.
YO YA W VOY AL PUERTO DONDE SE HAYA
LA BARCA DE ORO QUE DEBE CONDUCIRME,
YO YA ME VOY. SOLO VENGO A DESPEDIRME,
ADIOS MI BIEN, ADIOS PARA SIEMPRE ADIOS.
NO VOVLERAN TUS OJOS A MIRARME,
NI TUS OIDOS ESCUCHAR A MI CANTO
VOY A AUMENTAR A LOS MARES CON MI LLANTO.
ADIOS MI BIEN, ADIOS PARA SIEMPRE ADIOS.
Translation:
I am leaving now for the port where lies the golden ship that should
conduct me,
I am leaving now. I have just come to take my leave.
Goodbye my love, Goodbye forever goodbye.
Your eyes will never behold me again nor your ears hear again my
song.
I will augment the oceans with my tears. Goodbye my love, goodbye
forever
goodbye.
I guess I should not have tried to portray these songs without the beautiful melodies that go with them for without the music they just become words or simple poems. There is another song that was written after the Mexican revolution that captures the loyalty and the feelings of those who gave their all in that revolution. They didn't dwell on the battles or the glory of fighting but remembered their loves and songs of the revolution.
YO SOY MEXICANO
Nací en la frontera aca de este lado.
Acá de este lado puro Mexicano .
Por mas que la gente me jusgue Tejano
yo les aseguro que soy Mexicano
de acá de este lado.
Yo fui un Dorado de aquellos de Villa.
Que en fieras batallas jugaba la vida.
Peleando y gozando con toda la tropa,
peleando a caballo con mi Carabina
Mi fiel carabina.
Yo tuve por novia una joven bonita.
La tropa le puso por nombre Adelita.
Graciosa y damisa regaba las flores
y nos alegraba cantando canciones.
Canciones de amores.
Si Adelita se fuera con otro la seguiría por tierra y por
mar
Si por mar en un buque de guerra si por tierra en un tren
militar.
Fue mi Valentina mi fiel Soldadera,
que por decidida Ilego a Coronela.
Curo con sus rnanos mis rojas heridas
y fue inseparable corno carabina.
Mi fiel Valentina.
Valentina, Valentina ni te quisiera decir.
Una pasión me domina Fue la que me hizo venir.
Dicen que por tus amores mañana me han de matar
Si me han de matar mañana que me maten de una vez.
Por una coqueta perdí la cabeza por una coquita Ilamada
Marieta.
Fue amante de toda de toda la tropa por eso la quice por loca y
coqueta.
Mi linda Marieta..
Marieta no seas coqueta porque los hombres son muy malos.
Nos prometen muchos regales y después nos dan de palos.
Nací en la frontera acá de este lado.
Acá de este lado puro Mexicano.
Por mas que la gente me jusgue Tejano
yo les aseguro que soy Mexicano.
DE ACA DE ESTE LADO!!
Translation:
I was born on the border on this side of the line.
On this side of the line and all Mexican.
Although the people judge me to be a Texan
I always assure them I am Mexican.
From this side of the line.
I was a Dorado a soldier for Villa.
In fierce battles I gambled my life.
Fighting and living with all of our troupe,
fighting on horseback and carrying my rifle
My faithful rifle.
I had for my Sweetheart a beautiful young lady.
The Troupe gave her the name of Adelita.
Gracious and lady like she watered the flowers.
And made us happy singing us songs.
Songs of love.
If Adelita should go with another I would follow her on land or by
sea.
If by Sea in a battle ship and if by land on a military train.
This is part of the Old revolutionary song "Adelita".
It was my Valentina my Faithful Girl Soldier.
Because she was steadfast she became a Coronela.
She tended my red wounds with her tender hands
and was inseparable like my rifle.
My faithful Valentina.
Valentina, Valentina I hardly dare to speak
A passion dominates me and that is what made me come.
They say that for your love tomorrow I will be killed.
If they are going to kill me tomorrow let them kill me at once
today.
This is part of the old revolutionary song "Valentina".
I lost my head over a Coquet or Flirt
A Coqueta named Marieta
She was loved by alL yes all of the troupe.
That is why I loved her she was pretty and a flirt.
My lovely Marieta.
Marieta don't be a Coqueta because the men are very bad.
They promise us many gifts. But afterwards they beat is with
clubs
Part of another revolutionary song "Marieta".
It has been fun remembering some of these old songs that we used to sing and feel the love I have for Mexican songs and music. I feel that I have inadequately tried to convey the real beauty of some of the old classics of Mexican music with just the words without the music. There are so many beautiful old songs like " Un Viejo Amor " Janitzio" and hundreds of others that form a legacy of songs for the people of Mexico.
Love, Dad and Mom Grpa. & Grma. Keith and Naoma