I have only one LP of her. The wonder of her performance easily penetrated the language barrier. Lovely! My favourites from the album are the first two tracks:

PAJARITO HERIDO (The Wounded Bird)

Un lindo pajarito, cierta noche
herido refugiose en mi ventana
y yo le recogi compadecida
brindandole el calor que le faltaba

Le puse en un jaula primorosa
cuidabale con mimo noche e dia
y siempre que sus trinos escuchaba
cantaba asi, con gran melancolia

Pajarito, pajarito
que en tu jaula vives prisionero
yo tambien por un amor
iguai que tu cautiva muero
(se repite)

De un hombre zalamero y enganoso
sentiame a poco tiempo enamorada
al ver que mi galan era tan falso
rompi con su querer desenganada

Hoy dia que ha pasado tanto tiempo
recuerdo que le quiero todavia
y siempre que recuerdo al pajarito
suspiro asi, con gran melancolia

Pajarito etc


THE WOUNDED BIRD (Pajarito Herido)

One night, a lovely wounded bird
took refuge in my window,
feeling compassion,
I took him into the warmth of my home

I placed him in a beautiful cage
and looked after him night and day,
and when I heard the warble of his song,
with great sadness, I would also sing

Little bird, little bird
prisoner within your cage
I too am languishing
a prisoner of love
(repeat)

There was a man full of flattery and deceit
and I quickly fell in love with him
when I found out my lover was untrue
disallusioned, I broke up our affair

Even today after such a long time has gone by
I realise that I still love him
and whenever I think of that little bird
I sigh with great sadness

Little bird etc


PALIDA LUNA (Pale Moon)

Palida luna
noche de amor
noche serena
noche serena
que no volvio

Noche de ensueno
de inmenso amor
palida y bella
palida y bella
con bianco armino
con bianco armino
de un brillo al sol

Noche divina
perume mistico
plegaria intima
de libacion
y sella un coro de mis cantares
cuando a mi amada en sueno santo
iba a turbar

Mi triste noche de luna liena
noche apacible
noche de amor
cuando a mi amada liegare a cantarie
y a ofrendarie con toda mi alma
mi corazon


PALE MOON (Palida Luna)

Pale moon
night of love
serene night
serene night
that is gone forever

Night of illusions
of great love
pale and beautiful
pale and beautiful
with a white fur
with a white fur
brilliant as the sun

Sublime night
mystic perfume
intimate prayer
of inebriation
sealed with a chorus of my song
when I disturbed the saintly
dreaming of my beloved

My night is lonely
with a full moon
gentle night
when I came to sing to my beloved
offering my heart to her
with all my soul


Lyrics and translations from sleeve of Lydia Mendoza 'Part 2: Early Recordings from the 1930s: Texas-Mexican Border Music Vol 16' Folklyric LP 9024. Song lyrics and translations are by Guillermo Hernandez and Yolanda Zepeda. Both recordings were made in 1935.

--Stewie.