El Gallo Azul

The Blue Rooster

El Gallo Azul

It was in Cañas that I foundFue por Cañas que encontré
In a ranch among the mountainsEn un rancho entre las sierras
The tender maiden, whom I sang aboutLa moza tierna, que canto yo

It was a family celebrationEra fiesta familiar
The maiden's birthdayCumpleaños de la moza
Better than a rose was that flowerMejor que rosa era esa flor

The accordion wavedOndulaba el acordeón
A light maxixaUna maxixa liviana
That made you want to enter the danceQue daban ganas, de al baile entrar

I said to her, 'May I?'Yo le dije ¿me permite?
And she said, 'As you wish!'Y ella dijo: ¡Como guste!
The birthday is yours, I could guessDe usted es el cumple, pude atinar

Did you come from the city? I came from Tacuarembó¿Vino de la ciudad? Vine de Tacuarembó
Just to see me? Your humble servant¿Solo por verme a mí? Su humilde servidor
Will you leave from here? When the blue rooster crows¿Se marchará de aquí? Cuando cante el gallo azul
And will you forget me? May you never see the light again¿Y ya me olvidará? Que no vea más la luz

But life took meMás la vida me llevó
Through unknown fieldsPor campos desconocidos
I carry oblivion, everything I tookLlevo el olvido, todo llevó

I camped in CebollatíAcampé en Cebollatí
And slept by the borderY dormí por la frontera
The Brazilian woman accompanied meLa brasilera me acompañó

Now I want to rememberAhora quiero recordar
The maiden with brown eyesA la moza de ojos pardos
In that white and blue ranchEn aquel rancho blanco y azul

And bent by the bonfireY doblado junto al fogón
Not even its light shines on meNi su fogata me alumbra
I live in shadows, I carry my crossVivo en penumbras, cargo mi cruz