Si Se Calla El Cantor

If the Singer is Silenced

Si Se Calla El Cantor

If the singer is silenced, life is silencedSi se calla el cantor calla la vida
because life, life itself is a whole songporque la vida, la vida misma es todo un canto
if the singer is silenced, die of frightsi se calla el cantor, muere de espanto
hope, light, and joy.la esperanza, la luz y la alegría.

If the singer is silenced, the humble sparrowsSi se calla el cantor se quedan solos
from the newspapers are left alone,los humildes gorriones de los diarios,
the port workers cross themselveslos obreros del puerto se persignan
who will fight for their salary.quién habrá de luchar por su salario.

If the singer is silenced, the rose diesSi se calla el cantor muere la rosa
what good is the rose without the songde que sirve la rosa sin el canto
the song must be light over the fieldsdebe el canto ser luz sobre los campos
always illuminating those below.iluminando siempre a los de abajo.

Let the singer not be silent because silenceQue no calle el cantor porque el silencio
cowardly shelters the evil that oppresses,cobarde apaña la maldad que oprime,
the singers do not know about hidingno saben los cantores de agachadas
they will never be silent in the face of crime.no callarán jamás de frente al crimén.

If the singer is silenced... life is silenced.Si se calla el cantor... calla la vida.