Talento Pa' Cantar

Talent for Singing

Talento Pa' Cantar

To sing off the cuffPa' cantar de un improviso
Good talent is required,Se requiere buen talento,
Memory and understanding,Memoria y entendimiento,
Strength of a purebred rooster.Fuerza de gallo castizo.
Like a hailstormCual vendaval de granizos
The words must flourish,Han de florear los vocablos,
That will amaze even the devilQue han de asombrar hasta al diablo
With many beautiful reasonsOn muchas bellas razones
As in the conversationsComo en las conversaciones
Between Saint Peter and Saint Paul.Entre san pedro y san pablo.

Also, gentlemen listeners,También, señores oyentes,
An instrument is needed,Se necesita instrumento,
Many elementsMuchísimos elementos
And an eloquent companion.Y compañero elocuente.
Must be a good contender,Ha de ser buen contendiente,
Knowledgeable of history;Conocedor de la historia;
I wish I had memoryQuisiera tener memoria
To engage in a challenge,Para entablar desafío,
But I don't have the sensePero no me da el sentío
To finish with glory.Pa' finalizar con gloria.

Speaking of the instrumentAl hablar del instrumento
I refer to the big guitar,Diríjome al guitarrón,
With its wire and its drone:Con su alambre y su bordón:
Its sound is a wonder.Su sonoro es un portento.
I count five ordinances,Cinco ordenanzas le cuento,
Three of five, two of three,Tres de a cinco, dos de a tres,
The tuning pegs at its feet,El clavijero a sus pies,
The elegant fretboard.La entrastadura elegante.
Its box must haveCuatro diablitos cantantes
Four singing little devils.Debe su caja tener.

And to sing in competitionY pa' cantar a porfía
One must be a player,Habrá que ser tocadora,
The singer must be arrogantArrogante la cantora
To follow the melody,Para seguir melodía,
Guarantee joyGarantizar alegría
While the counterpoint lasts,Mientras dure el contrapunto,
Form a beautiful ensemble,Formar un bello conjunto,
Respond with great skill:Responder con gran destreza:
I see that my headYo veo que mi cabeza
Is not capable for this matter.No es capaz para este asunto.

Finally, kind gentlemen,Por fin, señores amables,
Who pay attention to me,Que me prestáis atención,
Who have found reasonQue habéis hallado razón
To avoid this sword:De hacerle quite a este sable:
But I don't want any commentMás no quiero que se entable
To be made against meContra mí algún comentario
: for the daily grind: pa' cominillo e' los diarios
There are many condiments.Sobran muchos condimentos.
The moment will not be lackingNo ha de faltarme el momento
For me to learn the canary's song.Que aprenda la del canario.