Parió la luna
'Parió la luna' is a beautiful ballad that, according to the researcher Germán Patiño, goes back to the 15th century. It was popularized by Alfonso Córdoba Mosquera.
"'Parió la luna' is an 'aguabajo' (tune from Chocó - a Colombian district) that seeks to stimulate literary creation. It is a 'canto de boga' (rowing song) used by people traveling in canoes when they navigate on the Pacific rivers. This 'aguabajo' with its call-and-response nature is sung by children during their evening entertainment meetings and their school activities.
'Parió la luna' and 'Velo qué bonito' are songs from the Pacific traditional repertoire. In these tunes you can't find a specific composer. Even if the origin is unknown, this music has been passed down from generation to generation through oral language in the community." -Alexander from the mariachis band Mariachi Vargas de Bogotá.
Parió la luna
Last Night and the Night Before
Canción tradicional
Rowing Song
(Spanish)
(English)
Antenoche y anoche
antenoche y anoche,
antenoche y anoche,
antenoche y anoche,
parió la luna, parió la luna,
parió la luna eh,
parió la luna, parió la luna,
parió la luna eh,
veinticinco luceros,
veinticinco luceros,
veinticinco luceros,
veinticinco luceros
Y una lunita y una lunita,
y una lunita eh,
Y una lunita y una lunita
y una lunita eh.
Antenoche y anoche
antenoche y anoche,
antenoche y anoche,
antenoche y anoche,
parió la blanca, parió la blanca
parió la blanca eh,
parió la blanca, parió la blanca
parió la blanca eh,
veinticinco blanquitos,
veinticinco blanquitos,
veinticinco blanquitos,
veinticinco blanquitos,
y una paloma, y una paloma,
y una paloma eh,
y una paloma, y una paloma,
y una paloma eh.
Last night and the night before*
Last night and the night before,
Last night and the night before,
Last night and the night before
The moon gave birth, the moon gave birth,
The moon gave birth, hey,
The moon gave birth, the moon gave birth,
The moon gave birth, hey.
To twenty-five bright stars,
To twenty-five bright stars,
To twenty-five bright stars,
To twenty-five bright stars
And a little moon, and a little moon,
And a little moon, hey,
And a little moon, and a little moon,
And a little moon, hey
Last night and the night before
Last night and the night before,
Last night and the night before,
Last night and the night before
The white woman gave birth, the white woman gave birth
The white woman gave birth, hey,
The white woman gave birth, the white woman gave birth
The white woman gave birth, hey
To twenty-five white babies
To twenty-five white babies
To twenty-five white babies
To twenty-five white babies
And a dove, and a dove,
And a dove, hey,
And a dove, and a dove,
And a dove hey.
Notes
*"Antenoche y anoche" literally translates to two nights ago or the night before last night.
Here is a longer version…
Antenoche y anoche
Antenoche y anoche
Parió la luna, parió la luna
Parió la luna e
Veinticinco luceros
Veinticinco luceros
Y una estrellita y una estrellita
Y una estrellita e.
Antenoche y anoche
Parió la negra, parió la negra
Parió la negra e
Veinticinco negritos
Veinticinco negritos
Y una culebra y una culebra
Y una culebra e.
Antenoche y anoche
Antenoche y anoche
Parió la blanca, parió la blanca
Parió la blanca e
Veinticinco blanquitos
Veinticinco blanquitos
Y una potranca y una potranca
Y una potranca e.
Antenoche y anoche
Antenoche y anoche
Parió la chola, parió la chola
Parió la chola e
Veinticinco cholitos
Veinticinco cholitos
Y una paloma y una paloma
Y una paloma e.
English Translation
Last night and the night before,
The moon gave birth to
Twenty-five bright stars
And a little star.
Last night and the night before,
The black woman gave birth to
Twenty-five black babies
And a grass snake.
Last night and the night before
The white woman gave birth to
Twenty-five white babies
And a female colt.
Last night and the night before,
The mixed-race woman gave birth to
Twenty-five mixed-race babies
And a dove.
Note: In Colombia, the word "cholo/a" refers to indigenous people. In many other places, it refers either to Native or mixed-race people and it's derogatory and offensive.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Alexander Vargas from the mariachis band Mariachi Vargas de Bogotá for contributing this song, a sheet music and a recording of the music.
