A la nanita, nana
A lullaby and a carol...
This song was written as a lullaby to Baby Jesus. Usually only the 1st and last verses are sung.
A la nanita, nana
Little Lullaby, Lull
Canción de Navidad
Christmas Carol
(Spanish)
(English)
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
mi Jesús tiene sueño, ¡bendito sea!
1
Pimpollo de canela, lirio en capullo;
duérmete, vida mía, mientras te arrullo.
Duérmete, que del alma mi canto brota,
y un deliquio de amores es cada nota.
¡Oh niño, en cuyos ojos el sol fulgura;
cerrarlos es cercarme de noche oscura.
Pero cierra, bien mió, los ojos bellos,
aunque tu madre muera sin verse en ellos.
Fuentecilla que corre clara y sonora,...
Ruiseñor que en la selva cantando llora....
¡Callen mientras la cuna se balancea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
mi Jesús tiene sueño, ¡bendito sea!
2
¡Ay, qué manos tan bellas las de mi niño!
Suavidad y blancura tienen de armiño.
¡Qué dolor tan de muerte para esta madre,
cuando fiero verdugo me las taladre!
Sienes de leche y rosas, sienes divinas,
que habéis de ser punzadas por mil espinas;
dejadme blancas sienes que os bese ahora,
con la piedad del ángel que a Dios adora.
Y tú, triste presagio que me torturas;
almáciga de penas y de amarguras;
¡huye mientras la cuna se balancea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
mi Jesús tiene sueño, ¡bendito sea!
3
Boquita de amapolas y de claveles,
que has de ser impregnada de amargas hieles;
llega, boca divina, llega a este seno,
de leche, de dulzuras y amores lleno.
¡Por Dios, hijito mío, no abras los brazos!
que al abrirlos el alma me haces pedazos;
pues me imagino verte cadáver yerto,
colgante, desangrado y el pecho abierto....
¡Pero huid, negras sombras de mis dolores!
¡no me nubléis el cielo de mis amores!
¡Huid mientras la cuna se balancea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
mi Jesús tiene sueño, ¡bendito sea!
4
Manojito de rosas y de alelíes,
¿Qué es lo que estas soñando que te sonríes?
¿Cuales son tus ensueños? Dilo, alma mía.
Mas.., ¿qué es lo que murmuras?.. ¿Eucaristía?
Yo no sé lo que es eso, niño del alma;
mas pues esa sonrisa mis penas calma.
Sigue, sigue soñando, mi dulce dueño,
sin que nada te ahuyente tan grato ensueño.
Pajaritos y fuentes, auras y brisas:
respetad ese ensueño y esas sonrisas.
Callad mientras la cuna se balancea,
que el niño está soñando ¡bendito sea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
My Jesus is sleepy, may He be blessed!
1.
Cinnamon shoot, lily in the bud
Sleep without fear while I lull you
Sleep, my song springs up from my soul
And every note is an ecstasy of love.
Oh, child in whose eyes the sun glows,
To close them is to enclose me in dark night.
But close your beautiful eyes, my treasure,
Even if your mother dies if she doesn't see herself in them.
Little spring that flows, clear and resonant,
The nightingale singing in the forest weeps,
Hush while the cradle is rocking,
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
My Jesus is sleepy, may He be blessed!
2.
Oh, what beautiful hands my baby has!
They are as soft and white as ermine.
What pain, like death it will be for the mother,
When the fierce executioner pierces them!
Temples of milk and roses, divine temples,
Ye shall be pierced by a thousand thorns,
Let me kiss you now, white temples,
With the piety of the angel who adores God.
And you, sad omen that tortures me;
Source of sorrows and bitterness,
Flee while the cradle is rocking,
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
My Jesus is sleepy, may He be blessed!
3.
Little mouth of poppies and carnations
That shall be steeped in sour bitterness;
Divine mouth, reach, reach this breast
Full of milk, sweetness and love.
By God, my little son, do not open your arms!
When you open them my soul breaks into pieces
Because I imagine you a as rigid corpse,
Hanging, bleeding, with your chest open…
But flee, black shadow of my pain!
Don't afflict my love!
Flee while the cradle is rocking,
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
My Jesus is sleepy, may He be blessed!
4.
Bundle of roses and wallflowers,
What are you dreaming of that makes you smile?
What are your dreams? Tell me, o my soul.
But what are you muttering? The Eucharist?
I don't know what that is, child of my soul,
But seeing that smile soothes my sorrows
Dream on, dream on my sweet lord
Without anything scaring away such a sweet dream.
Little birds and fountains, zephyrs and breezes,
Take care of that dream and those smiles.
Hush while the cradle is rocking,
The Child is dreaming! May he be blessed!
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
Notes
This song, "La nana, balada al niño Jesús" (The lullaby, ballad to Baby Jesus) was composed for voice and piano by José Ramón Gomis (1856-1939), lyrics by Juan Francisco Muñoz y Pavón (1866-1920). It was published/registered in 1904 by the "Sociedad de Autores Españoles" (Society of Spanish Authors) within the "Obras religiosas de varios autores" collection (Religious works by various authors). The original score is kept at the National Library of Spain.
You can listen to a recording from 1931 by Marco Redondo (Odeon) and to a recording from 1932 by Julio Vidal, La voz de su amo (His Master's Voice), both from the National Library of Spain.
Comments
"This song, "La nana, balada al niño Jesús" (The lullaby, ballad to Baby Jesus) was composed for voice and piano by José Ramón Gomis (1856-1939), lyrics by Juan Francisco Muñoz y Pavón (1866-1920). It was published/registered in 1904 by the 'Sociedad de Autores Españoles' (Society of Spanish Authors) within the 'Obras religiosas de varios autores' collection (Religious works by various authors).)"
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
mi Jesús tiene sueño,
¡bendito sea! ¡bendito sea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
mi Jesús tiene sueño,
¡bendito sea! ¡bendito sea!
Fuentecilla que corre clara y sonora,...
Ruiseñor que en la selva cantando llora....
¡Callen mientras la cuna se balancea!
¡A la nanita, nana, nanita, ea!
English Translation:
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
My Jesus is sleepy,
May He be blessed! May He be blessed!
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
My Jesus is sleepy,
May He be blessed! May He be blessed!
Little spring that flows, clear and resonant,
The nightingale singing in the forest weeps,
Hush while the cradle is rocking,
Little lullaby, lull, little lullaby aye-ya!
These lyrics come from the chorus and the last 4 lines of the 1st verse.
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Monique for contributing this song. Translated by Monique Palomares and Lisa Yannucci.
¡Muchas gracias!