El Gringo

The Gringo

El Gringo

Two guitars were heardSe escuchaban dos guitarras
And the neighing of a coltY el relincho de un potrillo
And from the strings cameY de las cuerdas salían
The notes of this corridoLas notas de este corrido
Why did they want to celebratePor qué querían festejarle
The birthday of a friendEl cumpleaños a un amigo

Many call him the GringoMuchos le dicen el Gringo
Some the EngineerAlgunos el Ingeniero
I only know he's a manYo sólo sé que es un hombre
Very honest and sincereMuy honrado y muy sincero
He says work is partDice que el trabajo es parte
Of women and moneyDe las hembras y el dinero

He was born there in BacapaFue nacido allá en Bacapa
Very close to BabunicaMuy cerca de Babunica
In the center of that mountain rangePor el centro de esa sierra
Where life is toughDonde la vida es canija
Where he brings his offspringDonde trae su descendencia
Man of humble shelterHombre de humilde cobija

Those who mocked himAquellos que lo asolearon
And saw him downY que lo vieron pa abajo
Now ask him for helpAhora le piden un paro
Others ask him for workOtros le piden trabajo
Today they say I'm your friendHoy le dicen soy tu amigo
You know I don't back downTú sabes que no me rajo

I sing to those who drinkYo le canto a los que toman
And to those who have never drunkY a los que nunca han bebido
I'm a friend of the great onesSoy amigo de los grandes
Who deserve a corridoQue merecen un corrido
The guitars that were heardLas guitarras que escucharon
Are from the favorite duetSon del dueto consentido