El Paisano

The Countryman

El Paisano

Let the bells ring outQue repiquen las campanas
let all arms open,que se abran todos los brazos,
our countryman is back in Asturias,que está de nuevo en Asturias,
our fellow is here.que está aquí nuestro paisano.

How could your militant heartComo no iba a resentirse
not feel resentmenttu corazón miliciano
for gaining freedomde ganar libertad
step by step through the mountains.por el monte paso a paso.

They weren't glorious yearsNo fueron años gloriosos
nor were they a failure,ni tampoco de fracaso
I didn't know your nameno conocía tu nombre
or that of your closest friend.ni el de más cercano trato.

They gave specific ordersDieron órdenes concretes
to search for you tirelessly,de buscarte sin desmayo,
it must be hard to livedebe ser duro vivir
hiding every day.escondiéndose a diario.

From village to village you walkedDe aldea en aldea andabas
eluding those who sought you,burlando a quien te buscaba,
sleeping in the barns,durmiendo por los pajares,
disappearing at dawn.desapareciendo al alba.

You were writing that storyFuiste escribiendo esa historia
that has not yet ended,que aun no ha quedado cerrada,
years of war and prisonaños de guerra y de cárcel
laid the foundation.cimentaron la alborada.

Just by looking at your faceBasta mirarte a la cara
and hearing your words:hasta escuchar tus palabras:
about death and hatredsobre la muerte y el odio
a nation cannot rise.no se levanta una patria.

Neither humiliated nor defeated,Ni humillados ni vencidos,
nor cowards nor scoundrels,ni cobardes ni canallas,
this land will be for allserá esta tierra de todos
who want to improve it.los que quieran mejorarla.

Let the bells ring outQue repiquen las campanas
let all arms open,que se abran todos los brazos,
our countryman is back in Asturias,que está de nuevo en Asturias,
our fellow is here.que está aquí nuestro paisano.

With his first and last nameCon su nombre y apellido
and pushing the same cart,y empujando el mismo carro
even the stones, if they could speak,hasta las piedras, si hablaran,
would speak well of Horacio.hablarían bien de Horacio.