Origins: Las Mananitas (Mexican birthday song)

Subject: Need Lyrics:Mex. wedding song:Los Mananitas
From: Robert Test
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 06:18 PM

I learned a Spanish wedding song to sing at a friend's wedding years and years ago when I lived on the Tex-Mex border.

It starts out (as I recall--forgive my faulty spelling)

Estas cion Las Maninitas que cantabel re David

(something like that)

I'm getting together with the old friends involved and thought it would be nice to pull out the old song again.

Can anyone help me get all the lyrics? Thanks rob

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics:Mex. wedding song:Los Mananitas
From: Ferrara
Date: 20 Mar 99 - 01:10 PM

Hi, Rob. You didn't say how soon you need the song. I was tied up all day yesterday, I'll type them in today or tomorrow. I'd like to learn it myself. But would it work for me to snail-mail you the sheet music? That way you'd have tune and all, and see how the tune fits the words. There's a lot of elision (?), ie the last syllable of one word is combined with first syllable of next word on a single note. Same thing happens with Italian songs. - R. Ferrara

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics:Mex. wedding song:Los Mananitas
From: Ferrara
Date: 20 Mar 99 - 01:35 PM

Here goes. Watch out for spelling errors, I don't speak Spanish. Note: I am NOT responsible for the sappy English lyrics, I types 'em as I sees 'em. The piano collection I used seems to have been printed about 1936.

LAS MANANITAS

Estas son las mananitas
que cantaba_el Rey David,
Pero No_eran tan bonitas,
Como las cantan aqui.
Si_el sereno de la_esquina
me quisiera_hacer favor,
De_apargar su linternita,
Mientras que pasa mi_amor.

Despierta mi bien despierta,
Mira que ya_amanecio',
Que_amanece que_amanece
rosita blanca de Jerico'.
Despierta mi bien despierta,
Mira que ya_amanecio',
Ya los pajarillos cantan,
La luna ya se metio'.

Que bonita mananita,
como que quiere llover,
A si_estaba la manana,
Cuando te_empece'_a querer.

Darling wake, the shadows fly,
the sleepy moon has said goodbye,
Come and greet the rose of dawning,
And say good morning to me.
On the streets the lights are out,
Lamplighter knows what he's about,
Knows that day has wakened eyes blue,
And sunny skies too, no doubt.

The birds all are singing love songs,
They know that I love you so,
Soon the sun will shower light,
On my little white rose of Mexico.
And, Oh, when we roam at dawning,
I'll climb up a magic stair,
And bring down the stars of morning,
To make a crown for your hair.

Darling wake, the day is near,
the gladdest day in all the year,
When you'll kiss me in the dawning,
And say good morning to me.

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics:Mex. wedding song:Los Mananitas
From: Robert Test
Date: 21 Mar 99 - 05:46 PM

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

The song brings back a lot of memories of working with the other guys in the group to learn the lyrics and get the parts down.

I really appreciate it. This summer our old group might get back together for a reunion. It'll be interesting to see if we can work the song again.

thanks again Robert

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics:Mex. wedding song:Los Mananitas
From: STREET WISE (inactive)
Date: 21 Mar 99 - 07:20 PM

hola ihope u fine the lyrics of the song by the way im MEXICAN . The lyrics for Las mananitas can be found in many high school spanish books. At the very least a high school near you could find them. Sometimes Cds come with lyrics. You might try K Mart.

Subject: RE: Need Lyrics:Mex. wedding song:Los Mananitas
From: Ferrara
Date: 21 Mar 99 - 11:36 PM

STREET WISE, are there other lyrics to the song than the ones I typed in above? Do you know them? Would you be willing to give a literal translation into English of the version I found? I'd love to have it. - R. Ferrara

Subject: Tune Add: LAS MANANITAS (Mexican wedding song)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 17 Jul 06 - 09:58 PM

This is from an old Spanish textbook (Churros y Chocolate) my little brother used in school. It provides only one verse and a melody. The chords are as given at the elmariachi.com site, except for an additional Bb on the ni of bonitas.

La mañanitas

Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba_el rey David,
a las muchachas bonitas se las cantaba así:
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya_amaneció;
ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

ABC:
X:1
T:Las mananitas
M:3/4
L:1/8
K:F
|: CC | F2>F2 EF | G2>E2 FG | A2>F2 GA | B4 BB |
A2>G2 FE | G2 FE FG | A2 B2 E2 | A4 :|
|: c2 | B2 GG AB | c2 A2 c2 | B2 GG AB | c2 z2 FF |
d2>d2 dd | c2 AG AB | c2 d2 B2 | A4 :|

Subject: ADD: Las Mananitas (Mexican birthday song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Jul 06 - 11:42 PM

Las Mañanitas

There are several forms of this song, for different occasions, as well as regional variations.
This one, a variation of the one posted by the Artful Codger, is an "aubade," a song sung at dawn as a greeting, often sung in Mexico when waking up a person on his saint's day.

LAS MAÑANITAS

Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el Rey David,
Pero no eran tan bonitas como las cantan aqui.
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

With a morning song we greet you as King David used to sing,
But more beautiful than his song is the music we bring.
Wake up, then, oh my lovéd, wake up for the dawn is nigh:
The birds are sweetly singing, the moon has gone from the sky.

Taken from Janet E. Tobitt, 1946, "The Ditty Bag," p. 19: contributed by Sra. de Villasante and Mrs. Milton Lancelot of Mexico City; English translation by Janet E. Tobitt.
Reproduced in "Canciones de nuestra cabaña," published for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts by Girl Scouts of the U. S. A., 1980, p. 52, with music.
The custom especially is appreciated by the recipient if he had been celebrating heavily the night before.

I have a few others, which I will post later.

Subject: Lyr Add: LAS MAÑANITAS (Oaxaca)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Jul 06 - 11:58 PM

LAS MAÑANITAS (Oaxaca)

Aquí está la piedra lisa
En donde yo me resbalé
Aquí no hay quien me levante
ni quien la mano me dé

Here's the stone that is slippery,
Against which I lost my footing;
But here I can find none to give me
The helping hand that I'm needing.

A type of the song as sung by groups of young people going home after an evening's entertainment.
With music, p. 90; Eleanor Hague, 1917, "Spanish-American Folk-Songs," The American Folk-Lore Society. Kraus Reprint Co. 1976, 115 pp.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 10:22 AM

What is Rey David? Another song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 11:56 AM

Rey (King) David is a reference to King David, of the biblical story.
David was the second king of Israel (about 1000 B. C.) and legend says music played an important part at the court. According to biblical legend, David played the harp. He also killed the Philistine, Goliath. All these stories are based on biblical references.

I am reminded of the line in the spiritual- "Little David, play on your harp,...."

Subject: Lyr Add: LAS MAÑANITAS (Jalisco)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 10:57 PM

LAS MAñANITAS (Jalisco)
(Morning Song for birthday or saint's day)

El día en que tu naciste
Nacieron todas las flores.
El día en que tu naciste
Cantaron los ruseñores.

Ya viene amaneciendo,
Ya la luz del día nos vió
Despierta, amiga mía,
Mira que ya amaneció.

Quisiera ser solecito
Para entrar por tu ventana
Y darte los buenos días
Acostadito en tu cama.

Por la luna doy un peso,
Por el sol doy un tostón,
Por mi amiga Marianita*
La vida y el corazón.
*(the person's name)

De las estrellas del cielo
Quisiera bajarte dos,
Una para saludarte
Y otra pa (sic) decirte adiós.

The day when you were born
Were born all the flowers.
The day when you were born
The nightingales sang.

Now the dawn is coming,
Now the light of day has seen us
Awake my friend, (my beloved)
Look, it has dawned.

For the moon I'd give a peso
For the sun I'd give a half;
For my friend, Marianita*, (*person's name)
My life and my heart.

Of the stars from the heavens
I should like to take down two-
One with which to greet you
And another to say good-bye.

Coll. Concha Michel.
Frances Toor, "A Treasury of Mexican Folkways," pp. 446-447, with music.

Subject: Lyr. Add: LAS MANANITAS DEL REY DAVID
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 08:41 PM

LAS MAÑANITAS DEL REY DAVID
(Morning Song of King David- often called the
National Birthday Serenade at Dawn)

Estas son las mañanitas
Que cantaba el rey David,
Y a las muchachas bonitas
Se las cantaba así:

Despierta, mi bién despierta,
Mira, que ya amaneció
Ya los parjaritos cantan,
Ya la luna se metió.

Que bonitas mañanitas,
Parece que va a llover.
Así estaba la mañana,
Cuando te empecé a querer.

Si el sereno de la esquina
Me quisiera hacer favor
de apagar su linternita
Mientras que pase mi amor.

Y ahora, sí, señor sereno,
Le agradezco su favor,
Y encienda su linternita,
Que ya mi amor ya pasó.

These are the Mañanitas,
That King David sang
And to the pretty girls
He sang them thus:

Awake, my love, awake,
Look, it is already dawn;
The birds are singing
And the moon has gone in.

What a lovely morning,
It looks as if it will rain.
The morning was the same
When I began to love you.

If the watchman on the corner
Wished to do me the favor,
He would put out his little lantern
While my love passes by.

And now, yes, Mr. Watchman,
I thank you for your favor,
You may light your little lantern
For my love has passed by.

Frances Toor, 1947, "A Treasury of Mexican Folkways," pp. 446-447, with music.

The first verse was posted above (17 Jul 06) from Tobitt's "Ditty Bag." Mistakes in the version at the head of this thread are corrected, and a simpler, more accurate transliteration is given.
'El sereno de la esquina' is the watchman on the corner; not a lamplighter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: GUEST,lucio
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 06:10 PM

take it from a real mexican


estas son las mananitas
que cantaba el rey david
a las muchachas bonitas
se las cantamos a ti

despirta mi bien despirta
mira que ya amencio
ya los pajarillos cantan
la luna ya se metio

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jul 06 - 04:50 PM

las Mananitas is a birthday song not a wedding song! you silly mexicans!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 12:07 AM

A real Mexican? As opposed to drugstore Mexicans? Or reconstituted Mexicans? (Just add agua!) :-}

Subject: Mexican wedding music for student pianist
From: GUEST,Teacher
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 12:58 PM

Hi all: I am trying to locate some music appropriate for a wedding ceremony with a Mexican groom, to be played by a young student pianist. Can anyone help me?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 01:12 PM

Go Here, CLICK! and look around in the Spanish section. (Volkslieder)

Subject: Lyr Add: LAS MAÑANITAS
From: GUEST,poud to be from monterrey méxico
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 09:32 PM

there are several ways to sing it, and they do use them for different purposes. but I've NEVER ( repeat: NEVER) heard it song at a wedding. maybe in the tex-mex border they might, but not as far as I'm concerned in México. the one we use here in Monterrey literally is a "happy birthday song".

Estas son las mañanitas
Que cantaba el rey david
Hoy por ser dia de tu santo
Te las cantamos aqui

Despierta mi bien despierta
Mira que ya amanecio
Ya los pajaritos cantan,la luna ya se metió

Que linda esta la manana
En que vengo a saludarte
Venimos todos con gusto
Y placer a felicitarte

El dia en que tu naciste
Nacieron todas la flores
en la pila del bautizmo
Cantaron los ruiseñores

Ya viene amaneciendo,
Ya la luz del dia nos vio
levantate de mañana,
Mira que ya amaneció.

Subject: Las Mananitas
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 11:45 AM

Estas son las mañanitas
Que cantaba el rey david
Hoy por ser dia de tu santo
Te las cantamos aqui

Despierta mi bien despierta
Mira que ya amanecio
Ya los pajaritos cantan,la luna ya se metió

Que linda esta la manana
En que vengo a saludarte
Venimos todos con gusto
Y placer a felicitarte

El dia en que tu naciste
Nacieron todas la flores
en la pila del bautizmo
Cantaron los ruiseñores

Ya viene amaneciendo,
Ya la luz del dia nos vio
levantate de mañana,
Mira que ya amaneció.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 02:52 PM

Yep, still the same as they were last month.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: GUEST,otramaria
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 10:12 PM

Only sing for birthdays, NEVER Weddings

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 11:28 PM

otramaria is correct

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: GUEST
Date: 04 May 07 - 04:02 PM

The lyrics to Mananitas to follow, but first a correction. This is not a wedding song, it's a birthday song, and it goes like this.

Estas son la mananitas
que cantaba el rey David.
Hoy por ser dia de tu santo
te la cantamos a ti.

       Chorus
Despierta mi bien, despierta
mira que ya amanecio.
Ya los pajaritos canta
la luna ya se oculto.

Vivian Salazar

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 13 May 07 - 01:05 AM

yes we sometimes use this for birthdays but us mexicans use it a lot for mothers day...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: GUEST,Trentcon
Date: 14 May 07 - 11:13 PM

Siempre canto "hoy por ser to cumpliaños, te la cantamos a ti (o aqui)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Nov 07 - 09:14 PM

happy birth-day to you, happy birth-day to you, happy birth-day dear diana, happy birth-day to you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: Genie
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 11:27 PM

You can hear Las Mañanitas - sung by a mouse

and by tenor Javier Solis.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 02:46 PM

I've never heard it for weddings, only birthdays or Mother's Day (even in the Tex-Mex border area.)

Anyone know of different versions used in other countries? I learned it from a Costa Rican professor, and the version I learned is very similar to those above, but more secular (no mention of santos) and for a group of singers - good for birthdays or mariachis. The version I know differs just enough that if I sing with people who know the Mexican version, I'm off every third line or so. Second to last verse, you use the birthday girl/guy's name followed by "-ito" for guys or "-ita" for girls.

Estas son las mañanitas
Que cantaba el rey david
Pero no eran tan bonitas
Que las cantamos aqui

Despierta mi bien despierta
Mira que ya amanecio
Ya los pajaritos cantan, la luna ya se metió

Que linda esta la manana
En que vengo a saludarte
Venimos todos unidos
Con gusto a felicitarte

El dia en que tu naciste
Nacieron todas la flores
Por eso es que te llamaron
[nombre]-ito/a de mis amores

Ya viene amaneciendo,
Ya la luz del dia nos vio
levantate de mañana,
Mira que ya amaneció.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican wedding song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 05:28 PM

There are many verses, regional or at the whim of the singer (but I wish that "wedding song" could be deleted from the heading. Birthday, Saint's day, mother's day. Locally the music is used for a good night song- but not for a wedding.

One common verse I didn't see above (or I missed it)-

Quisiera un San Juan, quisiera ser un San Pedro
para venirte a cantar con la musica del cielo.

I would like to be a Saint John, I would like to be a Saint Peter
To sing to you with the music of heaven.

Subject: Lyr Add: LAS MAÑANITAS (Mexican song)
From: GUEST,cristy17sp
Date: 08 Sep 10 - 01:34 AM

Hey, I have another version. Since I was born until I turn 20 it was a tradition for my grandpa to wake me up every morning of my birthday with LAS MAÑANITAS. And the version he would put on was like this

Estas son las mañanitas
Que cantaba el rey David.
A las muchachas bonitos
se las cantamos asi:

"Despierta mi bien, Despierta."
"Mira que ya amanecio,
Ya lo pajaritos Cantan,
La luna ya se metio".

Qué linda está la mañana,
en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto
y placer a felicitarte,

El día en que tú naciste,
nacieron todas las flores,
El la pila del bautismo,
cantaron los ruiseñores,

Ya viene amaneciendo,
ya la luz el día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana,
Mira que ya almaneció.

Quisiera ser solecito
para entrar por tu ventana
Y darte los "Buenos Días"
Acostadita/o en tu cama,

Quisiera ser un San Juan,
quisiera ser un San Pedro
Para venirte a cantar
con la música del cielo,

Con jasmines y flores
hoy te vengo a saludar
Hoy por ser día de tu santo,
te venimos a cantar.


Translated the first verse in the first line "LAS MAÑANITAS" it does not refer to morning but to the song King David sang. (not literal) would be something like:

These are "Las Mañanitas"
That King David sang
To the young pretty ladies.
He would sing them this:

Wake up, my love, wake up.
Look, dawned has arrived.
The birds are singing.
The moon has left.

I come to greet you
In this beautiful morning.
We all came with pleasure
And joy to congratulate you.

On the day that you were born,
All the flowers were bloomed.
At the baptismal font,
The nightingales sang.

The sun is starting to rise.
The day has given us light.
Get up in the morning.
Look, dawn has already arrived.

I would like to be a ray of sunlight
To be able to go in through your window
And tell you "Good morning"
While you're lying in your bed.

I would like to be Saint John,
I would like to be Saint Peter,
To come sing to you
With music from heaven.

With jasmine and flowers
Today I come to greet you.
Today being your birthday,
We came to sing to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican song)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 11:43 AM

Click here and then click the "play" symbol to hear a recording of LAS MAÑANITAS sung by Mariachi Vargas.

Click here and then click the "play" symbol to hear a recording of LAS MAÑANITAS sung by Mariachi Tamazula.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican birthday song)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 10:35 AM

CORRECT VERSION:
Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien*, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican birthday song)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 12:49 PM

There are several regional variations and personal preferences, all 'correct'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican birthday song)
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 06 Apr 25 - 04:14 PM

I know of a Roman Catholic parish which has a Spanish language Mass.
THis parish is in Albuquerque, New Mexico,
so, just north of the border.

A mariachi group (although with no brass, an accordion instead)
provides all the music for the Mass.
And before the service begins,
they always sing Las Mananitas.

Their version begins with

Que linda esta la manana
En que vengo a saludarte ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Las Mananitas (Mexican birthday song)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Apr 25 - 08:13 PM

Vicente Fernández - Las Mañanitas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnokRScKgU0