Cantos a la Virgen de la Tirana

Songs to the Virgin of La Tirana

Cantos a la Virgen de la Tirana

In La Tirana they are dancingEn la Tirana bailando están
and to the Virgin they go to pray,y a la Virgen van a rezar,
as a remedy for all evil,como remedio pa' todo mal,
the poor think they will heal.el pobre piensa que va a sanar.

Every month the foremanTodos los meses el caporal
before July comes to teachantes de julio viene a enseñar
mask and cape, lance and dagger,máscara y capa, lanza y puñal,
how to worship the Virgin.cómo a la Virgen hay que adorar.

From Antofagasta, from La Paz,De Antofagasta, desde La Paz,
that devilry comes to payesa diablada viene a pagar,
others' debts, of the rest,cuentas de otros, de los demás,
those who will never come to dance.de los que nunca vendrán a bailar.

The Indian asks for water and cornEl indio pide agua y maíz
for the chicha of Aprilpara la chicha del mes de abril
and if he gets sick he will asky si se enferma le va a pedir
for the priest to come pray for him when he dies.que el cura venga a rezarle al morir.

Every year he comes down againTodos los años vuelve a bajar
from his mountains to dance,de sus montañas para bailar,
Virgin of Carmen, what a carnival,Virgen del Carmen, qué carnaval,
but his star will not change.pero su estrella no habrá de cambiar