La Mamá Vieja

The Old Mother

La Mamá Vieja

The old mother always commandsLa mama vieja siempre manda
Sometimes she sweats when she dancesA veces suda cuando baila
The rhythm weighs on her in the callLe pesa el ritmo en la llamada

The mother knows and speaks to themLa mama sabe y les habla
Everyone stops to listen to herPara escucharla todos paran
She works hard but still singsTrabaja mucho igual canta

Today the convent is filled with candombe and with mamaEl convento hoy está con candombe y con mamá
Everyone moves to the beatToda la gente se mueve al compás
With mamaCon mamá

One day the mother opens the doorLa mama un día abre la puerta
She was thin and with the grandmotherAndaba flaca y con abuela
The grandmother dies and she remainsLa abuela muere y ella queda

The old mother sometimes criesLa mama vieja a veces llora
It seems like she feels lonelyParece que se siente sola
Watching children in the circlesMirando niños en las rondas