El árbol de la horca

The Gallows Tree

El árbol de la horca

The wind was swinging itEl viento lo balanceaba
what a dark memoryhay que recuerdo tan negro
it was my father's bodyera el cuerpo de mi padre
who had a rope around his neckque tenia una soga al cuello
they had hanged him on Sundaylo habian colgado el domingo
from the branches of that cedarde las ramas de aquel cedro

I was barely 10 years oldApenas tenia 10 años
I cried like a childlanzé mi llanto de niño
the dog had been shotel perro tenia un balazo
I knew from his howlslo supe por sus aullidos
but he was dragging a spurpero arrastraba una espuela
that belonged to the murderersque era de los asesinos

Sir, does it belong to youSeñor pues le pertenece
or perhaps you forgoto tal vez se le olvido
I am Jesús Maldonadoyo soy Jesús Maldonado
son of the one who was hangedhijo de aquel que colgo
you can imagine the reasonsya supondra los motivos
why I am looking for himpor los que lo busco yo

After all, the lawsDespues de todo las leyes
won't be able to save himno van a poder salvarlo
his children are not guiltysus hijos no tienen culpa
but that's beside the pointpero eso no viene al caso
if you don't arrive by twelvesi usted no llega a las doce
you may not see them againtal vez no vuelva a mirarlos

In the coyote's passEn el paso del coyote
be very well preparedvaya muy bien preparado
if you don't want to fightsi usted no quiere pelear
I'll drag you on my horselo arrastrare en mi caballo
from the branches of that cedarde las ramas de aquel cedro
I will leave you hanginglo voy a dejar colgado

Death rode on horsebackLa muerte andaba a caballo
he witnessed the eventslos hechos los presencio
in the coyote's passen el paso del coyote
this case happenedeste caso sucedio
there Jesús Maldonadoahi Jesús Maldonado
hanged a judge of lettersa un juez de letras colgó