Mambrú is known throughout Latin America, as googling will show.

The one I posted is from a book of folk songs from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Like the United States and Canada, many folk songs of these countries were brought by immigrants, and some are included in the book. One of these is Mambrú.

However, it is possible that it is not the right song. Moreover, only the children's song has been found- It probably is derived from a more warlike version. If we are on the wrong track, I think Joe may split the thread, as he has done on occasion.

In any case, here is a literal translation of Mambrú to add to what has been posted so far.

MARLBOROUGH WENT TO THE WAR

Marlborough went to the war,
What sorrow! What suffering!
Marlborough went to the war,
I don't know when it will come,
Do, Re, Mi, Do, Re, Fa,
I don't know when it will come

If it comes by Easter,
What sorrow! What irony!
If it comes by Easter,
or with the Trinity
(other versions Navidad, or Christmas)
Do, re, mi, do, re, fa.
or with the Trinity.

The Trinity will be finished,
What sorrow! what sorrow! what fury!
Trinity will be finished
Marlborough will not come now,
Do, re, mi, do, re, fa,
Marlborough will not come now.
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Here is a Puerto Rican version, much more complete, a children's game.

MAMBRú

Mambrú se fué a la guerra,
!Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué pena!
Mambrú se fué a la guerra
no sé cuando vendrá
Do, re, mi, do, re, ma,
no sé cuandro vendrá.

Si vendrá para Pascuas
!Qué dolor, qué, dolor, qué pena!
Si vendrá para Pasquas o para Navidad,
Do, re, mi, do, re, ma.
o para Navidad.

Allá viene un barquito
Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué pena!
Allá viene un barquito
?Qué noticias traerá?
Do, re, mi, do, re, ma
?Qué noticias traerá?

Las noticias que trae
Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué pena!
Las noticias que trae
dan ganas de llorar,
Do, re, mi, do, re, ma,
dan ganas de llorar.

Es que Mambrú se ha muerto,
Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué pena!
es que Mambrú se ha muerto,
y lo llevan a enterrar
Do, re, mi, do, re, ma
y lo llevan a enterrar.

La caja era de oro,
Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué pena!
La caja era de oro,
con tapa de cristal
Do, re, mi, do, re, ma,
con tapa de cristal.

Encima de la tapa
Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué pena!
encima de la tapa
un pajarito va,
Do, re, mi, do, re, ma,
un pajarito va.

Cantando pio, pio
!Qué dolor, qué dolor, qué pena!
Cantando pio, pio
el pio, pio, pa,
Do, re, mi, do, re, ma
el pio, pio, pa.

3. There comes a little boat.
What news does it carry?
4. The news that it carries
makes one want to cry.
5. It is that Marlborough is dead,
and is being carried to be buried.
6. The casket will be gold,
with a crystal cover.
7. On the cover
is seen a little bird.
8. It is singing pio, pio, etc.
(Pio also means piously).

A monthly cultural publication for Puerto Rico.
Mambru

Does anyone want to post the history here? I think he did get to the Peninsula, but I dunno anything else. Did Marlborough die?

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