A virxe de Guadalupe
"Galician is the language of Galicia in northwest Spain. Galician is transitional between Spanish and Portuguese. The following lyrics depict adventures of that land's most famous denizen, the Virgin of Guadalupe…..although in truth it appears she also inhabits a whole lot of other lands throughout greater Hispanic cultures… Here it is below as I remember it from having learned it well more than a half-century ago..." -Audie
A virxe de Guadalupe
The Virgin of Guadalupe
Traditional Song
Traditional Song
(Galician)
(English)
A virxe de Guadalupe
cando vai pola riveira,
A virxe de Guadalupe
cando vai pola riveira,
descalciña pola area
parece unha rianxeira,
descalciña pola area
parece unha rianxeira.
(Refrán)
Ondiñas veñen, ondiñas veñen,
ondiñas veñen e van
non te embarques rianxeira
que te vás a marear,
ondiñas veñen, ondiñas veñen,
ondiñas veñen e van
non te embarques rianxeira
que te vás a marear.
The Virgin of Guadalupe
When she goes to the riverbank
The Virgin of Guadalupe
When she goes to the riverbank
Going barefoot in the sand,
She seems like a Rianxeira*
Going barefoot in the sand,
She seems like a Rianxeira.
(Chorus)
Wavelets flowing in, wavelets flowing in
Wavelets flowing in and ebbing out
Do not go onboard, O Rianxeira,
You might get seasick,
Wavelets flowing in, wavelets flowing in
Wavelets flowing in and ebbing out
Do not go onboard, O Rianxeira,
You might get seasick.
Notes
*A "rianxeira" is a woman from Rianxo, a port town in Galicia.
Comments
A virxe de guadalupe (aka A Rianxeira) is a popular song and hymn of Galicia. The text has its origins in traditional 19th century Galician music and songs used during the processions of the Adoration of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Rianxo. The popular version was composed by Anxo Romero and written by Xesus Frieiro Dourado. This is part of the song. You can find more lyrics for it here.
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Thanks to Audie and Jenny for sharing this song with the translation!
Image: Frescoes on the ceiling of San Pedro Church in Loboc by renowned Cebuano painter Ray Francia. Original photo by Hankharu, cc. Edited by Lisa.
Grazas!
