Por Un Amor written by Gilberto Parra

Por un amor
Me desvelo y vivo apasionada;
Tengo on amor
Que en mi vida dej para siempre amargo dolor.
Pobre de m
Esta vida mejor que se aabe
!o es para m...
Pobre de m "ay ora#n...$
Pobre de m "no su%ras m&s...
'u&nto su%re mi pe(o
Que late tan solo por ti.
Por un amor
)e llorado gotitas de sangre del ora#n*
Me (as dejado on el alma (erida
+in ompasin...
I learned this ballad by Gilberto Parra
from the singing of Lucha Reyes, who is
a cornerstone of Mexican female vocal
tradition. She recorded a most charming
version of it in the !"#$s. ,.-.
For A Love written by Gilberto Parra
.or a love
/ an0t sleep and / live %ull o% passion
/ (ave a love
T(at le%t %orever in my li%e a bitter pain
Poor me
T(is li%e would be better i% it would end
/t0s not %or me.
Poor me "1y* my (eart...
Poor me "don0t su%%er any more...
)ow mu( my su%%ering in my breast
T(at t(robs so alone %or you.
.or a love
/ (ave ried little drops o% blood %rom my (eart*
2ou (ave le%t me wit( a wounded soul
3it(out ompassion...
Los Laureles written by 4ose ,ope#
51y* qu6 laureles tan verdes7
5Qu6 rosas tan enendidas7
+i piensas abandonarme mejor quitame la vida;
1l#a los ojos a verme
+i no est&s omprometido.
Eres mata de algodn
Que vives en el apullo;
1y* qu6 triste#a me da
'uando te llenas de orgullo
8e ver a mi ora#n
Enredado on el tuyo7
Eres rosa de astilla
Que slo en mayo se ve
Quisiera (aerte un invite*
Pero la verda no s6
+i tiene qui6n te lo evite*
Mejor me separar6.
Por 9ai9 va la despedida*
'(inito por tus quereres
,a perdiin de los (ombres
+on las benditas mujeres;
2 aqu se aaban antando
,os versos de los laureles.
%his ranchera is a standard for all
mariachis and dates bac& to the !'#$s
or !"#$s. It is su((osed to have been
written by )onsuelo *el+s,ue-. it was
common, es(ecially during the Mexican
Revolution in !#, for women to write
songs and include the cou(lets that men
customarily used. %his would ex(lain the
line, la perdiin de los (ombres son las
maldites mujeres /cursed women0, in the
original version. ,.-.
The Laurels written by 4ose ,ope#
1y* (ow green t(e laurels are7
3(at %iery roses7
/% you0re t(in:ing o% leaving me better
to ta:e away my li%e;
,i%t your eyes to loo: at me
/% you are not engaged to be married.
2ou are a sprig o% otton
T(at lives in t(e bud;
1y* w(at sadness / %eel
3(en you %ill yoursel% wit( (aug(tiness
;pon seeing my (eart
Entangled wit( yours7
2ou are a rose %rom 'astille
T(at an only be seen in May
/ would li:e to invite you*
<ut in trut( / don0t :now
/% t(ere is someone in t(e way
<etter t(at / go away.
+o goes t(e %arewell
'(inito* to your a%%etions
T(e <lessed women
1re t(e ruin o% men;
1nd (ere ends t(e singing
=% t(e verses o% t(e laurels
Hay Unos Ojos written by -uben .uentes
)ay unos ojos que si me miran
)aen que mi alma tiemble de amor
+on unos ojos tan primorosos
=jos m&s lindos no (e visto yo.
51y7* quien pudiera mirarse en ellos
51y7* quien pudiera besarlos m&s
Go#ando siempre de sus destellos
2 no olvidarlos nuna jam&s.
2 todos dien que no te quiero
Que no te adoro on %renes
2 yo les digo que mienten* mienten
Que (asta la vida dara por ti.
1ccording to Mendo-a, this ia a dan#a
(abanera, a fol& dance reflecting the )uban
influence which was strong in Mexico
following the revolution of !#. %he
rhythm of this walt- has an elegantly
graceful nineteenth century Creole cadence.
There Are Some Eyes
written by -ub6n .uentes
T(ere are some eyes w(i( i% t(ey loo: at me
Ma:e my soul tremble wit( love
T(ere are some eyes so e>quisite
Prettier eyes / (ave never seen.
1y7* w(o ould loo: at (imsel% in t(em
1y7* w(o ould :iss t(em more
Enjoying always t(eir spar:le
1nd never ever %orgetting t(em.
1nd everyone says t(at / don0t love you
T(at / don0t adore you wit( a %ren#y
1nd / tell t(em t(at t(ey lie* t(ey lie
T(at / would even give my li%e %or you.
La Cigarra written by -ay P?re# y +oto
2a no me antes igarra
Que aabe tu sonsonete
Que tu anto aqu@ en el alma
'omo un puAal se me mete
+abiendo que uando antas
Pregonado vas tu muerte.
Marinero marinero
8ime si es verdad que sabas
Porque distinguir no puedo
+i en el %ondo de los mares
)ay otro olor mBs negro
Que el olor de mis pesares.
;n palomito al volar
Que llevaba el pe(o (erido
2a asi para llorar
Me dijo muy a%ligido.
2a me anso de busar
;n amor orrespondido.
<ajo la sombra de un Brbol
2 al ompBs de mi guitarra
'anto alegre este (uapango
Porque la vida se aaba
2 quiero morir antando
'omo muere la igarra.
%his huapango was written by
Ray Pere- y Soto. It was recorded in the
!2#$s by 3orge 4egrete when he sang with
the %rio )alaveras, and more recently by
Lola 5eltran, who is, in my o(inion, the
greatest voice to ever come out of Mexico.

%he image of the wounded dove in the third
verse is a (o(ular symbol. it is a
messenger of afflicted love.
The Cicada
8on0t sing to me anymore* iada
,et your singsong end
.or your song* (ere in t(e soul
+tabs me li:e a dagger
Cnowing t(at w(en you sing
2ou are prolaiming t(at you are
going to your deat(
+ailor* sailor
Tell me i% it is true t(at you :now
<eause / annot distinguis(
/% in t(e dept( o% t(e seas
T(ere is anot(er olor bla:er
T(an t(e olor o% my sorrows.
1 little dove upon %lying
<earing a wounded breast
3as about to ry
1nd told me very a%%lited
/0m tired o% sear(ing %or
1 mutual love.
;nder t(e s(ade o% a tree
1nd to t(e beat o% my guitar
/ sing t(is 9(uapango9 (appily
<eause my li%e is ending
1nd / want to die singing
,i:e t(e iada dies.
T Slo T
written by .elipe Dalde# ,eal
Miro omo ando mujer
Por tu querer
<orra(o y apasionado
!o mBs por tu amor.
Mira omo ando mi bien
Muy dado a la borra(era
2 a la perdiiEn.
TF sElo tF
)as llenado de luto mi vida
1briendo una (erida en mi ora#En
TF... tF sElo tF
Eres ausa de todo mi llanto
8e mi desanto y desesperaiEn.
+Elo tu sombra %atal
+ombra de mal
Me sigue por dondequiera
'on ostinaiEn
2 por quererte olvidar
Me tiro a la borra(era
2 a la perdiiEn.
%u Solo %u is a famous cancion ranchera
written by 6eli(e *alde- Leal. It was sung
by Pedro Infante as well as Las 7ermanas
Padillas in the late !"#$s, early !2#$s.
1 more contem(orary version exists by
Maria 8olores Pradera, a favorite singer
of mine, who is from Spain.
ou Only ou
,oo: (ow /0m going around* woman
<eause o% your love
8run: and impassioned
=nly %or your love.
,oo: (ow /0m going around* my love
Given to drin:ing
1nd utter ruin.
2ou... only you
)ave %illed my li%e wit( sorrow
=pening a wound in my (eart
2ou... you only you
1re t(e ause o% all my weeping
=% my disillusionment and desperation.
=nly your %atal s(adow
+(adow o% evil
+tubbornly %ollows me
3(erever / go
1nd by trying to %orget my love %or you
/ t(row mysel% into drun:enness
1nd utter ruin.
Andale written by Minerva Eli#ondo
Qu? dirBn los de tu asa
'uando mi miran tomando*
PensarBn que por tu ausa
2o me vivo emborra(ando*
2 Bndale...
Pero si vieras
'omo son lindas estas borra(eras
2 Bndale...
/)oro0
Pero (asta uando
8ejan tus padres de andarte uidando
2 Bndale...
'ada ve# que vengo a verte
+iempre me voy resbalando;
= es que tengo mala suerte
= es que me estB llovi#nando
2 Bndale...
Pero si vieras
+eo mi (ao en mi (iguera %loreando
2 Bndale...
/)oro0
Pero si uando
+eo mi (ao en mi (iguera %loreando
2 Bndale...
Me dies que soy un neio
Porque me ando emborra(ando*
2 a pesar de tus depreios*
2o quiero seguir tomando* y Bndale
Pero si vieras
'omo son lindas estas borra(eras...
2 Bndale...
/)oro0
Pero que bellas
Paso las (oras vaiando botellas
2 Bndale.
I am a renowned teetotaler, but I love
this drin&ing song. %he use of the word
chaco is unusual /it has been defined as
organ meat of hunted fowl0 and the exact
meaning of the refrain it a((ears in
(robably has a double connotation. I
have o(ted to sing it here with my niece,
Mindy, who at 9 brings a lovely innocence
to this tale of gleeful debauchery.
!e" On #i"h $"
3(at will t(ey say t(ose in your (ouse
3(en t(ey see me drin:ing*
3ill t(ey t(in: t(at it0s on aount o% you
T(at / live my li%e drin:ing
Get on wit( it.
<ut i% you ould see
)ow pretty t(ese binges are
Get on wit( it.
"'(orus$
<ut until w(enever
2our parents stop proteting you
Get on wit( it.
Ea( time t(at / ome to see you
/0m always slipping;
/s it t(at / (ave bad lu:
=r is it t(at it0s dri##ling on me*
Get on wit( it.
<ut i% you ould see
Me dry my (ao in my %lowering %ig tree grove
Get on wit( it.
"'(orus$
<ut i% ever
/ dry my (ao in my %lowering %ig tree grove*
Get on wit( it.
2ou say t(at /0m a %ool*
<eause i0m always getting drun:*
1nd in spite o% your sorn*
/ want to :eep on drin:ing*
Get on wit( it.
<ut i% you were to see
)ow pretty t(ese binges are*
Get on wit( it.
"'(orus$
<ut (ow beauti%ul
1re t(e (ours / spend emptying bottles*
Get on wit( it.
%ogaciano El Hua&anguero
written by Daleriano Trejo
,a (uastea estB de luto
+e muriE su (uapanguero.
2a no se oye aquel %alsete
Que es el alma del trovero.
-ogaiano se llamaba
-ogaiano el (uapanguero
2 eran sones de la sierra
,as aniones del trovero.
,a 1#uena y la 'eilia
,loran* lloran sin onsuelo
MalagueAa +alerosa
2a se %ue su pregonero.
El aAal estB en su punto
)oy omien#a la molienda
El trapi(e estB de duelo
2 suspira en ada vuelta.
Por los verdes a%etales
MBs allB de aquel potrero
)ay quien die que de no(e
+e aparee el (uapanguero.
,a 1#uena y la 'eilia
,loran* lloran sin onsuelo
MalagueAa +alerosa
2a se %ue su (uapanguero.
%his moody, beautifully haunting hua(ango
was written by *aleriano %re:o, who, according
to Rub;n 6uentes, is a school teacher.
6uentes recorded it in the !<#$s with Miguel
1ceves Me:=a, another hero of mine. It is one
of the songs my brothers and I used to try to
harmoni-e when we were growing u(, so I as&ed
them to sing it with me on the record. 1fter
&nowing it for so long, we$ve finally learned
all the words>
It is a tale of the (uastea, a region north
of *era )ru-, Mexico, where the sones huastecos
/usually called hua(angos0 are sung. /See notes
on La )alandria for definition of sones.0 1
hua(anguero is a singer of hua(angos. %he style
is characteri-ed by falsetto brea&s in the
singing.
%ogaciano
,a (uastea
G
is in mourning
/ts (uapanguero (as died
2ou an no longer (ear t(at %alsetto
3(i( is t(e soul o% t(e troubadour.
-ogaiano (e was alled
-ogaiano t(e (uapanguero
G
1nd t(ey were sones o% t(e sierra
mountains
T(e songs o% t(e troubadours.
1#uena and 'eilia
1re rying* rying inonsolably
MalagueAa +alerosa
G
T(eir bard (as gone.
T(e ane is ready
Today begins t(e milling
T(e sugar mill is in mourning
1nd sig(s wit( ea( turn.
/n t(e green o%%ee plantations
.ar beyond t(at pasture
T(ere are t(ose w(o say t(at in t(e
nig(ttime
T(e (uapanguero appears.
1#uena and 'eilia
1re rying* rying inonsolably
MalagueAa +alerosa
G
T(eir bard (as le%t.
G
huasteca? a region
hua(anguero? a singer of hua(angos
'os Ar(oli"os
written by '(u(o Martine# Gil
)an naido en mi ran(o dos arbolitos*
8os arbolitos que paraen gemelos*
2 desde mi asita los veo solitos
<ajo el amparo santo y la lu# del ielo.
!una estBn separados uno del otro
Porque as@ quiso 8ios que los dos naieran*
2 on sus mismas ramas se (aen ariias
'omo si %ueran novios que se quisieran.
1rbolito* arbolito* bajo tu sombra
Doy a esparar que el d@a ansado muera*
2 uando estoy solito mirando al ielo
Pido pa0 que me mande una ompaAera.
1rbolito* arbolito* me siento solo
Quiero que me aompaAes (asta que muera.
My father loves this song so much he
once offered my brother Mi&e @<# to
learn to sing it. I$m afraid I beat him
to it but I haven$t received a dime. In
view of the circumstances, the only
(ro(er thing to do was invite him and
my brother Pete to sing the trio with
me. %hey got scale. It was written by
)hucho Martine- Gil and made (o(ular by
Pedro Infante in the late !"#$s or
early 1940's.
T)o Li""le Trees
Two little trees (ave been born
on my ran(
Two little trees t(at loo: li:e twins
1nd %rom my (ouse / see t(em all alone
;nder t(e (oly protetion and lig(t
%rom t(e (eavens.
T(ey are never separated*
one %orm t(e ot(er
<eause t(at is (ow God wanted
%or t(e two o% t(em to be born*
1nd wit( t(eir own branes
t(ey aress ea( ot(er
1s i% t(ey were sweet(earts
w(o loved ea( ot(er.
,ittle tree* little tree*
under your s(ade
/0m going to wait until
t(e end o% t(is tiring day*
1nd w(en /0m all alone
loo:ing to t(e s:y
/0m going to as: )eaven
to send me a ompanion.
,ittle tree* little tree
/ %eel alone
/ want you to aompany me
until / die.
Corrido 'e Cananea
written by -ub?n .uentes
Doy a dar un pormenor
8e lo que a m@ me (a pasado*
Que me (an agarrado preso
+iendo un galla tan jugado.
2o me %ui para 1gua Prieta
1 ver qui?n me ono@a
2 a las one de la no(e
Me apre(endiE la poliia.
Me apre(endieron los gendarmes
1l estilo ameriano*
'omo un (ombre de delito*
Todos on pistola en mano.
,a Brel de 'ananea
EstB situada en una Mesa
2 en ella %ui proesado
Por ausa de mi torpe#a.
8espedida no la doy
Porque no la traigo aqu@
+e la deje al santo niAo
2 al seAor de Mapimi.
%his beautiful orrido /story song0
is a favorite of my brother Pete who is
el je%e de poliia in %ucson. 7e tells
a story about singing this in his
(olice car with one of the regular
drun&s that he would (ic& u( and either
escort to :ail or drive home, de(ending
on how much mischief the man had been
u( to. It is a song from Sonora sung
during the Revolutionary war, and I
remember my dad and his great com(adre,
6eli(e, singing its many verses late
into the night with a good bottle of
mexcal for the accompaniment.
*allad o+ Cananea
/0m going to detail
3(at (appened to me*
T(at t(ey (ave ta:en me prisoner
<eing a well played rooster.
"Even t(oug( /0ve been around and
s(ould (ave :nown better.$
/ went to 1gua Prieta
To see i% / (ad a reputation t(ere
1nd at HHIJJ at nig(t
T(e polie appre(ended me.
T(ey arrested me
/n t(e 1merian style*
1s t(oug( / were a riminal
1ll o% t(em wit( pistol in (and.
T(e jail o% 'ananea
/s situated on a plateau
1nd in it / was proessed
=n aount o% my stupidity.
/ give you no %arewell
.or / don0t (ave it wit( me
,eave it to t(e )oly '(ild
1nd to t(e ,ord o% Mapimi.
La *arca 'e !uaymas
written by -ub?n .uentes
1l golpe del remo se agitan las olas
,igera la bara
1l ruido del agua se a(onda mi pena
+ollo#a mi alma.
Por tantos pesares* mi amor angustiado
,lorando te llama
2 te (allas muy lejos... y sola*
muy sola
+e enuentra mi alma.
1legre viajero que tornas al puerto
8e tierras lejanas
Que e>traAo piloto ondujo tu bara
+in vela y sin anla
8e qu? regiEn vienes* que (as (e(o
peda#os
Tus velas tan blanas.
2 %uiste antando
2 vuelves trayendo* la muerte en el alma
2o soy el marino
Que alegre de Guaymas* saliE una maAana
,levando en mi bara omo ave piloto
Mi dule esperan#a.
Por mares ignotos
Mis santos an(elos (undiE la borrasa
Por eso estBn rotas mis penas
2 traigo la muerte en el alma.
Te %uiste antando
2 (oy vuelves trayendo
,a muerte en el alma.
My father used to (lay this graceful
song on the (iano during la-y Sunday
afternoons in our home in %ucson. It
too& me about "# years to finally get
around to as&ing him what it was
called. 7ow we ta&e these treasures
for granted> It was written around !A
in )osala, Sinaloa, on the west coast
of Mexico. %he musicologist 1drian
%revino thin&s that this song was a
salon (iece, (ossibly a valse asentado
/slow walt-0. Its salon origins are
suggested by the unusual (oetic strucB
ture and ex(ression. each thought is
in three parts of six syllables each.
The *oa" +rom !uaymas
1t t(e stro:e o% t(e oar t(e waves
are agitated
,ig(t is t(e boat
1t t(e noise o% t(e water my sorrow
gets deeper
1nd my soul is sobbing.
<eause o% so many troubles
My anguis(ed love ries out to you
2ou are very %ar away
1nd my soul %inds itsel% alone*
all alone.
Tired traveler w(o returns to t(e port
.rom %araway lands
3(at strange pilot sailed your boat
3it(out a sail* wit(out an an(or
.rom w(ere do you ome* t(at you (ave
torn to piees
2our sails so w(ite.
2ou le%t singing
1nd today you return* bringing deat(
in your soul.
/ am t(e sailor w(o (appily %rom Guaymas
,e%t one morning
'arrying in my boat* li:e a guiding bird*
My sweet (ope
T(roug( un:nown seas
T(e storm overw(elmed my sared
yearnings
T(at0s w(y my e%%orts are bro:en
1nd / bring deat( in t(e soul.
2ou le%t singing
1nd today you return
<ringing deat( in your soul.
La Calandria
written by !iando 'astillo
2o soy omo la alandria
Que para %ormar su nido
+iempre busa rama %uerte
Para no verlo a@do
=tros son omo el venado
Que por listo y presumido
'uando anda de enamorado
,o matan desprevenido
1y...1y...1y...1y...
,as nubes van por el ielo
,os pesados por el agua
El oro estB bajo el suelo
2 el amor en las enaguas
Mi prieta linda
Que voy a (aer
+i tF me quitas
Este querer.
8e que les sirve a los (ombres
Presumir de valentones
+i uando estBn en su asa
+e les aen los pantalones
Tambi?n suede otra osa
'on los que son %an%arrones
'uando ven la osa en serio
,es pasa algo en sus al#ones.
%his was (robably originally a son
jaro(o from the early !##$s, but it
is arranged here by 8on Rub;n in the
style of the (uastea. %he ethnoB
musicologist 8r. Ste(hen Lo-a describes
a son /(lural? sones0 as a fol& song
and dance /usually danced with heels on
a board0 re(resented in different
regions in Mexico. 3arocho is the
region of the 1tlantic seaboard in
era Cru!.
The Lar,
/ am li:e t(e lar:
T(at in order to %orm its nest
1lways loo:s %or a strong bran(
+o t(at s(e won0t see it %all.
=t(ers are li:e t(e deer
Eager and presumptuous
3(en it goes out to %ind love
/s :illed wit(out warning.
1y...1y...1y...1y...
T(e louds go t(roug( t(e s:y
T(e %is( t(roug( t(e water
T(e gold is under t(e ground
1nd love is in t(e pettioats.
My dar: lovely one
3(at am / going to do
/% you ta:e t(is love
1way %rom me.
3(at good is it %or men
To put on airs
/% w(en t(ey are at (ome
T(eir pants %all down.
1lso anot(er t(ing (appens
3it( t(ose w(o are braggarts
3(en t(ey see t(e real t(ing
+omet(ing (appens to t(em
in t(eir bree(es.
El Sol -ue T Eres
written by 8aniel Dalde#
+ol redondo y olorado
'omo una rueda de obre
8e diario me estBs mirando
8e diario me miras pobre
/)oro0
+ol lo tF eres
Tan parejo
Para repartir tu lu#
)ab@as de enseAarle al amo
1 ser lo mismo que tF
Me miras on el arado
,uego on la ro#adera
;na ve# en la llanura
2 otra ve# en la ladera.
%his ex,uisite ballad is in the
(ublic domain and relatively un&nown.
8on Rub;n guessed that it might be
very old, (erha(s a hundred years or
so. I first sang it with 8anny *alde-
in 'orridos, a P.5.S. (roduction
directed by his brother Luis. 8anny
said that he learned it on the (ic&et
line with %eatro )am(esino, hel(ing
to organi-e the farm wor&ers with
C"sar Ch#$e!.
The Sun Tha" ou Are
+un* round and red
,i:e a opper w(eel
8aily you are loo:ing at me
8aily you see me poor.
/)horus0
+un t(at you are
+o %air to everyone
1s you spread your lig(t
2ou s(ould tea( my boss
)ow to be t(e same as you.
2ou see me wit( t(e plow
,ater wit( t(e si:le
=ne time on t(e plains
1nd ot(er time on t(e (illside.