La bruja
"La bruja" is in a style of music called Jarocho from the city of Veracruz. It's one of the most popular tunes for traditional dance there. There's a dance that accompanies this song.
"La bruja" means "the witch". It's a type of witch that sucks blood like a vampire. This song is the story of an old maid who wants to catch a man (at least one!).
La bruja
The Witch
Canción tradicional
Traditional Song
(Spanish)
(English)
1. ¡Ay! qué bonito es volar
a las dos de la mañana,
a las dos de la mañana,
¡ay! qué bonito es volar,
¡ay mamá!
2. Volar y dejarse caer
en los brazos de una dama.
Ay qué bonito es volar
a las dos de las mañana,
¡ay mamá!
3. Me agarra la bruja
y me lleva a su casa,
me vuelve maceta
y una calabaza.
4. Me agarra la bruja
y me lleva al cerrito,
me vuelve maceta
y un calabacito.
5. ¡Ay! dígame, dígame
¡ay! dígame usted
¿cuántas criaturitas
se ha chupado usted?
6. Ninguna, ninguna,
ninguna, no sé,
yo ando en pretensiones
de chuparme a usted.
7. ¡Ay!, me espantó una mujer
en medio del mar salado,
en medio del mar salado,
¡ay! me espantó una mujer,
¡ay mamá!
8. ¿Por qué no quería creer
lo que otros me habían contado?
lo de arriba era mujer
y lo de abajo pescado,
¡ay mamá!
9. Levántate, Petra,
levántate, Juana,
que ahí anda la bruja
debajo 'e la cama.
10. Levántate, Argelia,
levántate, Adela,
que ahí anda la bruja
detrás de tu abuela.
11. ¡Ay! dígame, dígame
¡ay! dígame usted
¿cuántas criaturitas
se ha chupado usted?
12. Ninguna, ninguna,
ninguna, no sé,
yo ando en pretensiones
de chuparme a usted.
1. Oh, how nice it is to fly
At two o'clock in the morning,
At two o'clock in the morning,
Oh! how nice it is to fly,
Oh mama!
2. To fly and to fall
In the arms of a lady.
Oh, how nice it is to fly
At two o'clock in the morning,
Oh mama!
3. The witch grabs me
And she takes me to her house,
She turns me into a flowerpot
And a pumpkin.
4. The witch grabs me
And she takes me to the little hill,
She turns me into a flowerpot
And a gourd.
5. Oh! Tell me, tell me,
Oh! You must tell me,
How many creatures
Did you drink from?
6. None, none
None, I don't know,
I just want to
Drink from you.
7. Oh, a woman scared me
In the middle of the salty sea,
In the middle of the salty sea,
Oh! A woman scared me,
Oh mama!
8. Why didn't I want to believe
What others told me?
Above she was a woman
And below she was a fish,
Oh mama!
9. Get up, Petra,
Get up, Juana,
There's the witch
Underneath the bed.
10. Get up, Argelia,
Get up, Adela,
There's the witch
Behind your grandmother.
11. Oh! Tell me, tell me,
Oh! You must tell me,
How many creatures
Did you drink from?
12. None, none
None, I don't know,
I just want to
Drink from you.
Notes
There are many versions of this song.
Comments
"In order to continue the tradition in future generations, child-friendly movie versions of the song are written...
...La Bruja' was one of the favorite songs of the Mexican painter Diego Rivera, the two-time husband of the painter Frida Kahlo, and was also included in the film Frida, in which Salma Hayek, in the role of Frida Kahlo, also sings this song." Wikipedia (Translated from the German text)
A una bruja me encontré
Que en el aire iba volando,
Que en el aire iba volando,
A una bruja me encontré,
¡ay mamá!
Al verla le pregunté,
A quién andaba buscando.
Busco a un señor como usted,
Pa' que me cante un Huapango,
¡ay mamá!
Translation:
I found a witch
That was flying in the air,
That was flying in the air,
I found a witch,
Oh, mama.
When I saw her, I asked her,
Who was she looking for
I'm looking for a gentleman like you,
For him to sing me a huapango*,
Oh, mama.
*A type of musical style.
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Translated by Lisa Yannucci. Thanks for Monique Palomares for the corrections.
