Rio De Los Pájaros

River of the Birds

Rio De Los Pájaros

Uruguay is not a riverEl Uruguay no es un río
It's a blue sky travelingEs un cielo azul que viaja
Painter of clouds on the wayPintor de nubes camino
With a taste of rural honeysCon sabor a mieles ruanas

The loves of the coastLos amores de la costa
Are loves without destinySon amores sin destino
Water hyacinth of hopeCamalote de esperanza
That the river takes awayQue se va llevando el río

Chua, chua, chua ha ha haChua, chua, chua ja ja ja
Don't sing anymore, little turtledoveNo cantes mas torcacita
The ceibo tree cries bloodQue llora sangre el ceibal

Little washerwomanMorenita lavandera
Little heron of the coastBiguacita de la costa
Roll up your skirtEnrollate la pollera
Start washing the clothesPonete a lavar la ropa

Your mother cooks jerkyTu madre cocina charque
Your father went up the riverTu padre fue río arriba
And you stayed aloneY vos te quedaste sola
Washing clothes on the shoreLavando ropa en la orilla

Fishing canoeCanoita pescadora
Hold on during the stormAguantame el temporal
If my arms don't tireSi mis brazos no se cansan
Rowing, I will get you outRemando te he de sacar

Curly-haired little boyGurisito pelo chuzo
Eyes like a caimanOjitos de yacaré
Chirping bellyBarriguita chifladora
Coffee-colored backLomito color café