Kicky C did a good translation and Conan I think is right about the Virgin being Mary. The Llorona is a Mexican Legend/Folk Song with many different versions. It is in the text book "Conexiones" that I use to teach third semester Spanish in the community college here ((c) 1999 Prentice Hall). One of my students just TONIGHT put the lyrics on the board and sang the song, beautifully, with guitar, so it's a real coincidence to see this thread.

La Llorona is a frightening apparition of a woman who wails but may not be seen, or is seen dressed in white, who scares even the bravest of men who see her, she who may submerge herself in a lake, and who is said in some versions to have drowned her kids in a lake or river because of some mortal sins. That is the legend.

The song version by Tish Hinojosa goes like this:

Sali'as del Templo un di'a, Llorona
You were leaving the Temple one day, Llorona (one who cries a lot)
cuando al pasar yo te vi.
when I saw you as I passed.

Ay de mi', Llorona, Llorona, Llorona
(expression like "woh")
de un campo un lirio
an iris from the countryside
Ay de mi', Llorona, Llorona, Llorona
Lle'vame al r'io
take me to the river

Hermoso huipil llevabas, Llorona,
You wear a beautiful huipil
que la Virgen te crei'.
that I though you were the Virgin Mary herself.
No se' lo que tienen las flores, Llorona,
I don't know what's wrong with the flowers (as in "to have" a disease or a problem)
las flores de un campo santo.
the flowers of a sacred ground.
Que cuando las mueve el viento, Llorona,
That when the wind moves them (the flowers)
parece que esta'n llorando.
it seems like they are crying
Dos besos llevo en la frente, Llorona,
Two kisses I wear on my forehead
que no se apartan de mi'.
that won't leave me.
El u'ltimo de mi madre, Llorona,
The first one from my mother
y el primero que te di.
and the first that I gave you
No se' lo que tienen las flores, Llorona,
I don't know what's wrong with the flowers
las flores de un campo santo.
the flowers of a sacred ground.
Que cuando las mueve el viento, Llorona,
parece que esta'n llorando.
Ta'pame con tu rebozo, Llorona,
Cover me with your shawl
porque me muero de fri'o.
because I'm freezing my butt off (I'm dying of cold)

Hope this is of interest to someone.

Tom B.

I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me how in these threads or in email as well how you put the accents, tildes, underlines, italics, etc. in. Is that a DOS thing? I know how to put the marks in in Word or Wordperfect, but not in email or threads. Thank you.