Cucurumbé

Cucurumbé

Cucurumbé

The little black girl cucurumbéLa negrita cucurumbé
Went to bathe in the seaSe fué a bañar al mar
To see if in the white wavesPara ver si en las blancas olas
Her face could whitenSu carita podía blanquear

The little black girl cucurumbéLa negrita cucurumbé
Approached the beachA la playa se acercó
Envying the little shellsEnvidiando a las conchitas
For their pale colorPor su pálido color

She wanted to be whiteQuería ser blanca
Like the moonComo la luna
Like the foamComo la espuma
That the sea hasQue tiene el mar

A fish with a top hatUn pescado con bombín
Approached herSe le acercó
And taking off the hatY quitandose la bomba
Greeted herLa saludó
But oh my goodness!¡Pero válgame señor!
Don't you see¿Pues qué no ves
That being black makes you beautifulQue así negra estás bonita
Little black girl cucurumbé?Negrita cucurumbé?

A fish with a top hatUn pescado con bombín
Approached herSe le acercó
And wagging its tailY moviendo la colita
Asked herLe preguntó
But oh my woman!¡Pero válgame mujer!
Don't you see¿Pues qué no ves
How beautiful your face isQue bonita es tu carita
Little black girl cucurumbé?Negrita cucurumbé?