Las Manos

The Hands

Las Manos

How beautiful are the handsQue hermosas son las manos
Of the humble, laborerDel humilde, labrador
That sink into the earthQue se sumen, en la tierra
That work, sun to sunQue trabajan, sol a sol

How pretty are the handsQue bonitas, son las manos
Of a bride, at the altarDe una novia, en el altar
And how sad are the handsY que tristes son las manos
That go to a funeralQue van en, un funeral

Tell me, is there more tendernessDiga usted, si hay mas ternura
Than one can imagineQue se pueda imaginar
Than in the tiny handsQue en las manos pequeñitas
Of children, when they prayDe los niños, al rezar

Tell me, tell me, is there more tendernessDiga usted, diga usted, si hay mas ternura
Than one can imagineQue se pueda imaginar
Than in the incomparable handsQue en las manos, incomparables
Of a mother, when she caressesDe una madre, al acariciar

And those, those who don't have themY aquel, aquel que no la tenga
Well, let them forgive my songBueno que, que perdone mi canción
It's just that I want to talk about holy handsEs que yo, yo quiero hablar de manos santas
And for me, a mother's hands, a mother's hands, those, those areY para mi las de madre, las de madre, esas, esas son

But there are hands, that are clawsPero hay manos, que son garras
Blinded by ambitionCegadas por la ambición
That order: to war!Que ordenan: ¡a la guerra!
And cause desolationY causan desolación

But there are two hands, there are two hands that manPero hay dos manos, hay dos manos que el hombre
Made, long ago forgotHace, hace tiempo ya olvidó
They are hands, that were beatenSon manos, que fueron golpeadas
Humiliated by hatred, by resentmentHumilladas por el odio, por el rencor
But they are also hands that performed miraclesPero también son manos hicieron milagros
They are hands, hands that gave loveSon manos, son manos que dieron amor
Much loveMucho amor
That's why please look closelyPor eso por favor miren bien
Look closely, I want you to seeMiren bien, yo quiero que vean
I want you to see, wellQuiero que vean, pues
Well, they are the hands of GodPues son las manos de Dios