Camamecero

Chamame Master

Camamecero

Look at him, it doesn't matter the name;Mirenlo, no importa el nombre;
it could be Joaquin, Ernesto,puede ser Joaquin, Ernesto,
Transito, Isaco, or anyoneTransito, Isaco o cualquiera
of our chamame masters...de nuestros chamameceros...

He's the king of the party,Es el duenio de la fiesta,
his quiet presence commands;su callado bastonero;
everyone unwittingly hands oversin querer todos le entregan
the reins of their feelings.las riendas del sentimiento.

That's why the crowdPor eso la concurrencia
feels a tickle insidesiente cosquillas adentro
and their soul starts to dancey que le retoza el alma
as soon as the instrument opens...ni bien abre el instrumento...
Check it out! It's worth itFijense! Vale la pena
to see him, standing in his silence,verlo, de pie en su silencio,
weaving melodiesdestrenzando melodias
and wrinkling the wind...y como arrugando el viento...

It seems like a sacred rite;Parece un rito sagrado;
the chamame master bows,se inclina el chamamecero,
closes his eyes and choosescierra los ojos y elige
a deep chamameun chamame bien de adentro
that’s a beautiful snakeque es una vibora hermosa
that seems to be in heatque parece estar en celo
because it twists and twistsporque se enrieda y se enrieda
until it sinks its venomhasta clavar su veneno
into the ankles of the dancer...en los tobillos del damo...

And from that moment onY ya desde ese momento
the Correntino is wounded...el correntino va herido...
He doesn't dance, he prays; his gesturesNo baila, reza; sus gestos
speak for him... meanwhile,hablan por el... mientras tanto,
while he writhes away,mientras se va retorciendo,
blood spills on the dance floorse desangra por la cancha
from the wound of his silence...la herida de su silencio...

He drags his feetLleva arrastrando los pies
in a sinuous vibe;en sinuoso viboreo;
he feints, spins, sways,amaga, gira, se hamaca,
plants himself in the footwork;se planta en el zapateo;
and like a peacocky como el pavo real
he stands tall, pompous and slow,va erguido, pomposo y lento,
with the noble bearingcon el porte cortesano
of an ancient knight.de un antiguo caballero.

(From what distant past,(De que remoto pasado,
from what buried empire,de que sepultado imperio,
from what burned townsde que pueblos incendiados
does this magic come?le viene ese sortilegio?
From where does that slow strengthDe donde esa fuerza lenta
that grips the ground come?que se va agarrando al suelo?
From where does that gallantryDe donde esa gallardia
that has the dancer moving come?que tiene bailando el mencho?

Some say it's inheritanceUnos dicen que es herencia
and others, things of a charm;y otros, cosas de amuleto;
the music is in the soulla musica esta en el alma
of the children of this land;de los hijos de este suelo;
it surged up through their bloodse le les subio por la sangre
from their heels to their chest,de los talones al pecho,
and it bursts from their handsy les brota por las manos
and blooms in the wind...y les florece en el viento...

Maybe that's why we use you,Tal vez por eso te usamos
brother chamame master,hermano chamamecero,
denying you that placenegandote ese lugar
that’s yours and that we owe you.que es tuyo y que te debemos
They applaud you and praise youTe aplauden y te ponderan
but (Who took the timepero (Quien se tomo el tiempo
to come to your housede llegarse hasta tu casa
to share your sleepless nights...?a compartir tus desvelos...?

What do we know of your lifeQue sabemos de tu vida
and what of your thoughts...?y que de tus pensamientos...?
What do you tell your wine;Que le contas a tu vino;
what sorrow, what love, and what dreams...?que pena, que amor y que suenios...?
Father of our joy,Padre de nuestra alegria,
Lord of the dance, Master!senior de del baile, Maestro!
you can't be paid with money,no se te paga con plata,
your worth is priceless...!Lo tuyo no tine precio...!

I hope you never die,Ojala no mueras nunca,
brother chamame master,hermano chamamecero,
and do me a favor, if one dayy haceme el favor, si un dia
I happen to die, I don’t plan to,llego a morir, que no pienso,
play me your "Ahapotama"tocame tu "Ahapotama"
or "La Cau," and I promiseo "La Cau", y te prometo
to get upque me voy a levantar
on my way to the cemeterycamino del cementerio
to stay by your side,para quedarme a tu lado,
to be your guitaristpara ser tu guitarrero
and to sing by eary para cantar de oido
and in duet like in my town,y a duo como en mi pueblo,
the most heartfelt chamame,el chamame mas sentido,
the chamame that’s beenel chamame que hace tiempo
crying in your soulte anda llorando en el alma
and it’s your voice, Chamame Master!y es tu voz Chamamecero!