Cielito Lindo - Mexico's unofficial national anthem
Cielito Lindo
We have heard the ‘unofficial’ national anthem of Cuba – Guantanamera – this week’s song is the unofficial national anthem of Mexico which is Cielito Lindo.
They sing it whenever they get the opportunity and, like Guantanamera, the tune has also been stolen by football fans.
For me it has extra poignancy because I used to sing it to my granddaughter when she wouldn’t go to sleep.
It is roughly translates as "Lovely Sweet One". The word cielo means "sky" or "heaven", but is also a term of endearment comparable to sweetheart or honey. Cielito, the diminutive, can be translated as "sweetie"; lindo means "cute", "lovely" or "pretty".
Commonly played by mariachi bands, it has been recorded by many artists in the original Spanish as well as in English and other languages.
It is debated if the song talks about the Sierra Morena, a mountain range in the south region of Spain, or the similarly named Sierra Morones in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.
I have stolen the words in Spanish and English from Wikipedia. The literal translation is just that – too literal. Like many songs in South America, there are multi-choice verses and the first and third verses seem to be the ones that are sung most often.
I have two versions to play to you. The first is by Ana Gabriel, a famous Mexican singer/songwriter, who treats the song with due reverence. The second is by that cheesy Dutchman Andre Rieu from his concert in Mexico. His orchestra is dressed in Mexican hats and bandit costumes, but the audience love it and when he strikes up Cielito Lindo, they go apeshit!
Spanish
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Literal English translation
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De la Sierra Morena,
cielito lindo, vienen bajando, Un par de ojitos negros, cielito lindo, de contrabando.
Estribillo:
Ay, ay, ay, ay,
Canta y no llores, Porque cantando se alegran, cielito lindo, los corazones. Pájaro que abandona, cielito lindo, su primer nido, Si lo encuentra ocupado, cielito lindo, bien merecido. (Estribillo)
Ese lunar que tienes,
cielito lindo, junto a la boca, No se lo des a nadie, cielito lindo, que a mí me toca. (Estribillo)
Una flecha en el aire,
cielito lindo, lanzó Cupido, si la tiró jugando, cielito lindo, a mí me ha herido. (Estribillo) |
From Sierra Morena,
Pretty darling, coming down are A pair of little black eyes, Pretty darling, sneaking by. Refrain:
Ah, ah, ah, ah,
Sing and don't cry, Because by singing they get happy, Pretty darling, the hearts. A bird that abandons, Pretty darling, his first nest, If he finds it occupied, Pretty darling, it is well deserved. (Refrain)
That beauty mark that you have
Pretty darling, next to your mouth, Don't give it to anyone, Pretty darling, for it is mine. (Refrain)
An arrow in the air
Pretty darling, Cupid launched If he shot it playing, Pretty little heaven, she has hurt me. (Refrain) |
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