El Amigo

The Friend

El Amigo

At a trot he arrived at the housesAl tranco llego a las casas
After the sun had setDespués que se puso el sol
Just like a wet leatherIgual que un cuero mojado
His heart felt heavyLe pesaba el corazón

Under the shade of the patioBajo la sombra del patio
Slowly he unsaddledDespacio desensillo
On the path to the watering holeCaminito de la aguada
His horse got lostSu caballo se perdió

Like from afar the windComo de lejos el viento
Carried a rumorIba carriando un rumor
Of pastures and tree-lined avenuesDe potreros y alamedas
Mysteries of prayerMisterios de la oración

Under the moonlight lanternBajo el candil de la luna
He took out tobacco and rolledSaco tabaco y armo
Just like a wet leatherIgual que un cuero mojado
His heart felt heavyLe pesaba el corazón

His friend had diedSe le había muerto el amigo
A horse had crushed himUn caballo lo apretó
Matters that always happenAsuntos que siempre pasan
In those lands of GodPor esas pampas de Dios

For stories and liesPara historias y mentiras
The wake is an occasionEl velorio es ocasión
But the one who truly feelsPero el que siente de veras
Has no wordsNo tiene conversación

Bitterly lonelyAmargueando soledades
He spent the whole nightToda la noche paso
Then he accompanied his friendDespués el último viaje
On his final journeyDel amigo acompaño

And then always silentY después siempre callado
He went back to his ranchA su rancho enderezo
And no one cares at allY a naides le importa nada
About what went through his soulLo que por su alma paso

Only when the moon was leavingRecién al irse la luna
He reached his ranchA su rancho se gano
The things he ponderedLas cosas que cavilaba
Maybe only God knowsTal vez que la sepa Dios

Just like a wet leatherIgual que un cuero mojado
His heart felt heavyLe pesaba el corazón