El Buen Modo

The Good Way

El Buen Modo

I have so much to be thankful forTengo tanto que agradecer
To the one who gave me to drinkAl que me dio de beber
When I was dying of thirstCuando de sed me moría
Water in a jug, taste of a wellAgua en jarro, gusto a pozo
But a mighty riverPero río caudaloso
It seemed to meMe parecía

These eyes will not forgetEstos ojos no olvidarán
The one who once gave me breadAl que una vez me dio pan
When hunger afflicted meCuando el hambre me afligía
Hard crumb, homemade breadMiga dura, pan casero
That wheat field of the whole worldQue trigal del mundo entero
It seemed to meMe parecía

May you always be blessedSeas siempre bendito
For your good wayPor tu buen modo
Because by giving me a littlePorque al darme poquito
You gave me everythingMe diste todo

Before deathAntes que la muerte
Steals the chanceMe robe la ocasión
To repay youPara corresponderte
Here I send you my heartAquí te mando mi corazón

Today I remember the one who yesterdayHoy me acuerdo de aquel que ayer
Knew how to show compassionSe supo compadecer
When tears were shedCuando lágrimas vertía
His comfort was scarceEra parco su consuelo
But God with a handkerchiefPero Dios con un pañuelo
It seemed to meMe parecía

I could never forgetNunca pude olvidarme yo
The one who once sheltered meDel que una vez me albergó
When I had no roofCuando techo no tenía
Poor shack, small cotRancho pobre, catre chico
But a mansion of the richPero caserón de rico
It seemed to meMe parecía

May you always be blessedSeas siempre bendito
For your good wayPor tu buen modo
Because by giving me a littlePorque al darme poquito
You gave me everythingMe diste todo

Before deathAntes que la muerte
Steals the chanceMe robe la ocasión
To repay youPara corresponderte
Here I send you my heartAquí te mando mi corazón