Pájaro de rodilla
Cantor que canta es pájaro
pechito de semillas
cantando en la taberna
o con la voz enferma
no canta de rodillas
Puedes verlo agitando
las alas amarillas
con los ojos cerrados
y el corazón cansado
mas nunca de rodillas
mas nunca de rodillas
No puede el pajarito
paradito en su horquilla
o en la rama más alta
o en la humilde gramilla
ponerse de rodillas
Hablo del pajarito
y de su cancioncilla
que puede nacer cierta
que puede nacer muerta
pero no de rodillas
pero no de rodillas
No hay canto verdadero
ni canción tan sencilla
que el pájaro al cantarla
para más entregarla
la ponga de rodillas
Y no defiendo al canto
sino a la pajarilla
de papel que hace un trino
mañana un desatino
mas nunca de rodillas
mas nunca de rodillas
Y el que canta al tirano
no es pájaro ni es nada
es reptil del pantano
cloqueando para el amo
de rodilla doblada
Cantor que canta es pájaro
pechito de semillas
cantando en la taberna
o con la voz enferma
no canta de rodillas
no canta de rodillas
Kneeling Bird
Singer who sings is a bird
little chest of seeds
canting in the tavern
or with a sick voice
he doesn't sing on his knees
You can see him flapping
his yellow wings
eyes closed
and tired heart
but never on his knees
but never on his knees
The little bird can't
stand on his perch
or on the highest branch
or on the humble grass
kneel down
I speak of the little bird
and his little song
that may be born true
that may be born dead
but not on his knees
but not on his knees
There's no true song
or song so simple
that the bird, when singing it
to give it more
puts it on its knees
And I don't defend the song
but the little bird
of paper that makes a trill
tomorrow a mistake
but never on his knees
but never on his knees
And he who sings to the tyrant
is neither bird nor anything
he's a reptile from the swamp
clucking for the master
on bended knee
Singer who sings is a bird
little chest of seeds
canting in the tavern
or with a sick voice
he doesn't sing on his knees
he doesn't sing on his knees