Lyr Add: La Llorona

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 03:59 PM

Translation of Tehuantepec version of "La Llorona," posted above by Escamilio.

Lyr. Add: La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)

Pain and what is not pain, alas llorona,
All is pain for me;
Yesterday I wept to see you, alas llorona,
And today I weep because I saw you.

You came out of church one day, alas llorona,
When in passing I saw you.
So beautiful a *huipil with lace you wore
That I thought you were the Virgin.

I climbed up the highest pine, alas llorona,
To see if I could get a glimpse of you.
As the pine was tender, alas llorona,
On seeing me weep, it wept.

Every day when night falls, alas llorona.
I begin to think and I say:
What good is my bed, alas Llorona,
If you're not sleeping with me.

Ah poor me, llorona, llorona,
Llorona of deep blue.
Yesterday I wept to see you, alas llorona,
And today I weep because I saw you.

From the sea came a letter, alas llorona,
Which the siren sent to me,
And in the letter she told me, alas llorona,
He who loves suffers pain.

Pain and what is not pain, alas llorona,
All is pain for me.
Yesterday I wept to see you, alas llorona,
And today i weep because I saw you.

Ah poor me, llorona, llorona,
Llorona of celestial blue,
Although it may cost me my life, alas llorona,
I shall never cease to love you.

*huipil- a blouse with embroidery and lace,
Translation of "La Llorona" by Concha Michel. With music.
Frances Toor, "A Treasury of Mexican Folkways," Crown Publishers, NY, 1947 (1964), Songs and Dance Music, pp. 443-444.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Stewart
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 04:52 PM

Here's another version of a La Llorna song from Mexico. This was recorded by the duo Correo Aereo, and there's a sound clip of it on their web site. Correo Aereo is now based in Seattle. I heard them live in concert recently and they are fantastic musicians. Abel Rocha plays harp and a variety of guitar-like instruments and Madeleine Sosin plays violin and sings. I was just blown away by their music.


La Llorona
Trad. Mexico

No se que tienen las flores, llorona
las flores del campo santo
que cuando las mece el viento, llorona
parece que estan llorando

Ay de mi llorona, llorona
llorona de azul celeste
aunque la vida me cueste ,llorona
no he de dejar de quererte

Ay de mi llorona,llorona
llorona llevame al río
tapame con tu rebozo, llorona
porque me muero de frio

Ay de mi llorona,llorona
llorona de ayer y hoy
ayer maravilla fuí, llorona
y ahora ni sombra soy.

La Llorona (The Crying Woman)

I don't know what the flowers have, llorona
the flowers of the cemetery
that when the wind rocks them, llorona
seems that they are crying

Ay my crying woman, llorona
llorona of blue sky
even if it cost my life, llorona
I won't stop loving you

Ay my llorona, llorona
llorona carry me to the river
cover with your rebozo, llorona
because I'm dying of cold

Ay my llorona, llorona
llorona from yesterday and today
I was marvelous in the days gone by
Today, there is not even a trace of its shadow upon me.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 05:09 PM

Thanks, Stewart. Duo vocals are a Mexican specialty, and they are good.

Subject: RE: La Llorana lyrics?
From: GUEST,Kate
Date: 17 Dec 04 - 05:25 PM

The lyrics I posted are as sung by Tish Hinojosa on her Aquella Noche CD. She only notes it as being traditional and gives no further information...
>^,,^<
Kate

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 02:13 AM

This is indeed a spooky song. Fella named Allen Damron from Raymondville, Texas, does it, too. Can give goosebumps. I'm not sure where to look for his recordings, but he's probably got it on one of 'em.    Tw

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: GUEST,Scoville
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 09:08 PM

It's a common story here in Texas and, in the U.S. at least, it overlaps a lot with the various vanishing hitchhiker tales (including the girl in the white dress, and the woman who haunts the bridge where her baby drowned/was washed away). I think that anywhere that has a sizable Latino population has its own local variants. The version I learned was that she was a tribal princess of Mexican Indian descent and her lover was a Spanish noble. He would not marry her because she wasn't of European ancestry so she killed their children (stabbed and/or drowned) and was later hanged for the crime.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 10:32 PM

The story of Cortes and Malinche has been used by the New Mexican writer, Rudolfo Anaya, for his opera, "La Llorona." Cortes uses Malinche as a translator in his war against the Aztecs, and she bears a son with him. He decides to advance his career by marrying a Spanish princess. Malinche in despair murders her son before he can be murdered by the princess. Malinche becomes the Crying woman, La Llorona.

The story of the weeping one is in the late Aztec literature, but they may have got it from the conquering Spaniards. Some historians say the story originated in Spain and was carried to the New World, others that it is a New World story. The Aztec version is complicated, but simplified versions of an Aztec princess who kills her child are widespread in Mexico.

La Llorona has become associated with evil and witchcraft in some tales. Near Albuquerque, children who play along the Rio Grande at night are called by La Llorona and taken away by her. She also is supposed to have lured and drowned unwary men who come down to the river to drink and carrouse.

In Arizona and New Mexico, one story is about a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a wealthy young ranchero. He wins her, they are married, and have two children. After a few years, he goes back to a life on the prairie, forsaking his wife. He comes to visit the children, but rejects her. She meets him when he is accompanied by a lady. He speaks with the children but ignores her.
In a rage, she throws the two children into the river. Realizing what she has done, she runs after them, but they disappear downstream.
Next morning, she is found dead on the bank of the river, and the villagers bury her there.
Now on dark nights, the people hear the sound of crying. It is La Llorona crying for her children. A woman is seen, dressed in white, walking the river bank. Children are warned to stay away from the river at night, for La Llorona might take them to replace her lost children.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 10:51 PM

"La Llorona, Encounters with the Weeping Woman," has 50 stories about her from New Mexico. Authors Judith Beatty, E. Garcia Kraul and Tony Sanchez. Sunstone Press, 2004, paperback.

There are also illustrated versions of the story for children in print.

Subject: Lyr Add: LA LLORONA
From: GUEST,David in Oaxaca
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 07:10 PM

Ay de mi llorona,
llorona de un campo lirio
Los que no saben de amores llorona
No saben lo que es martirio

Woe is me, llorona
Llorona of the lily field
Those who do not know of love
Do not know what is martyrdom

Dicen que no tengo duelo Llorona
Porque no me ven llorar
Hay muertos que no hacen ruido Llorona
Y mas grande es su penar

They say I don't feel pain, Llorona
Because they don't see me cry
There are dead ones who make no sound, Lllorona
And their pain is greater

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 07:50 PM

Thanks, David. A new one to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona (La Llorona)
From: GUEST,red.robot
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 04:36 PM

There are many, many more verses, and they probably cannot be fully listed because the song has been going around roughly since the Mexican revolution and every singer has a different version.

Here are some verses, I think they are from the Oscar Chavez version

A mi el confesor me dijo, llorona que te olvide y no te quiera (x2)
Suspirando le contesto, llorona'Ay, padre, si usted la viera!' (x2)

Cuando entrabas a la iglesia, llorona, te diviso el confesor (x2)
Se le callo la custodia, llorona, por que temblaba de amor. (x2)

A un santo Cristo de fierro, llorona, mis penas le conte yo(x2)
Cuantas no serian mis penas, llorona, que el santo cristo lloro (x2)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona (La Llorona)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 09:47 PM

TOM B!!!!! i have the same book im in honors spanish 4 at my school and we are doing the same exact poem, we are all lost on what to do with El Hechizo and the story about El Fantasma....BIG ASS test tomorow on it all, thankyou for your help!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 08:44 AM

Interestingly, I have a Northern Mexican friend who told me the following version of La Llorona:

La Llorona was an Indian woman who fell in love with a Spanish soldier and became his mistress. Eventually she became pregnant and had children with him, but one day he left to marry a Spanish noblewoman. When she discovered he'd left her, she drowned her children in a river, and she's sometimes still heard and seen, wandering and crying. I always thought that version of the story was meant as a warning against interracial relationships.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 23 Apr 13 - 10:22 PM

Todos me dicen el negro, Llorona, negro pero cariñoso.
Everyone calls me the dark one, Llorona. Dark, yes, but loving.
Yo soy como el chile verde, Llorona, picante pero sabroso.
I am just like chile verde, Llorona. Sharp, but inviting.

Salias del templo un día, Llorona, cuando al pasar yo te ví.
Leaving the temple one day, Llorona, when I happened to see
Hermoso güipil llevabas, Llorona, que la vírgen te creí.
the beautiful cloak that you wore, Llorona, the Virgin I took you to be.

Ay de mí, Llorona, Llorona, Llorona, de azul celeste.
Alas, Llorona, Llorona, Llorona, Llorona, heavenly blue.
Y aunque la vida me cueste, Llorona, no dejaré de quererte.
Although life takes its toll, Llorona, I'll never stop caring for you.

Dicen que no tengo duelo, Llorona, porque no me ven llorar.
They say I have no sorrow, Llorona, because they don't see my tears.
Hay muertos que no hacen ruido, Llorona, y es más grande su penar.
The dead are silent, Llorona, Llorona. Your sorrow is greater than mine.

Ay de mi Llorona, Llorona, Llorona, de ayer y hoy.
Alas, Llorona, Llorona, Llorona, Llorona, then and now.
Ayer maravilla fui, Llorona, y ahora ni sombra soy.
Then I was a wonder, Llorona, and now not even a shadow.

Subject: Lyr Add: LA LLORONA
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Apr 13 - 11:01 AM

From Òmnibus de Poesía Mexicana by Gabriel Zaid (México : Siglo Veintiuno Editores, 1991), page 191:


LA LLORONA

1. No es extraño que las olas, Llorona,
traigan perlas a millares,
si a las orillas del mar, Llorona,
te vi llorar la otra tarde.

2. Al pie de un rosal florido, Llorona,
te ve llorar la otra tarde,
y al verte llorar, lloraban, Llorona,
las rosas y mis pesares.

3. Entre la noche sombría, Llorona,
tus ojos negros brillaron,
y hasta los gallos cantaron, Llorona,
creyendo que amanecía.

4. Si al cielo subir pudiera, Llorona,
las estrellas te bajara,
la luna a tus pies pusiera, Llorona,
con el sol te coronara.

5. ¡Ay de mí!, Llorona,
Llorona de azul celeste,
aunque la vida me cueste, Llorona,
no dejaré de quererte.

6. Dicen que no tengo duelo, Llorona,
porque no me ven llorar:
hay muertos que no hacen ruido, Llorona,
y es más grande su penar.

7. A un Santo Cristo de acero, Llorona,
mis penas le conté yo;
¡cuán grandes serían mis penas, Llorona,
que el Santo Cristo lloró!

8. ¡Ay de mí!, Llorona,
Llorona, deja llorar,
a ver si llorando puede, Llorona,
mi corazón descansar.

9. No quieras medir, Llorona,
de qué tamaño es el cielo;
hay dos cosas sin medida, Llorona,
mi amor y mi desconsuelo.

10. La pena y la que no es pena, Llorona,
todo es pena para mí:
ayer penaba por verte, Llorona,
y hoy peno porque te vi.

11. Cada vez que cae la tarde, Llorona,
me pongo a pensar y digo:
¿De qué me sirve la cama, Llorona,
si tú no duermes conmigo?

12. ¡Ay de mí!, Llorona,
Llorona, llévame al río;
tápame con tu rebozo, Llorona,
porque me muero de frío.

13. Salías del templo un día, Llorona,
cuando al pasar yo te vi;
hermoso huipil llevabas, Llorona,
que la Virgen te creí.

14. ¡Ay de mí!, Llorona,
Llorona, yo te pidiera
que tu huipil de brocado, Llorona,
me cubra cuando yo muera.

15. Dicen que no nos queremos, Llorona,
porque no nos ven hablar:
a tu corazón y al mío, Llorona,
se lo pueden preguntar.

16. Todos me dicen el negro, Llorona,
negro, pero cariñoso;
yo soy como el chile verde, Llorona,
picante, pero sabroso.

17. Cuando paso por tu casa, Llorona,
compro pan y voy comiendo,
pa' que no diga tu madre, Llorona,
que de hambre me estoy muriendo.

18. A mí el confesor me dijo, Llorona,
que te olvide y no te quiera;
suspirando yo le dije, Llorona,
"¡Ay, padre, si usted la viera!"

19. Si me voy, siento una pena, Llorona,
si me quedo, siento dos;
por no sentir ni una pena, Llorona,
ni me quedo ni me voy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 08:44 AM

Actually, does anyone know where I can get a MIDI for this song? I've been searching for it but no luck :(

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 11:54 AM

There are several, as the song is sung in several areas.
I will look for one that has the words above, and scan the score.
PM your email and I will scan it to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 28 Apr 13 - 09:34 PM

@Q: Could you send me the link to download the MIDI when you find it, please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Monique
Date: 29 Apr 13 - 04:42 AM

Midi
midi+mp3+sheet music

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: MorwenEdhelwen1
Date: 29 Apr 13 - 04:52 AM

@Monique: Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Jun 20 - 06:50 AM

This song and story could use more research.

Here's the Wikipedia article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Llorona

And here's a recording by Tish Hinojosa: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G85MDi4GeMI

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Nov 20 - 09:23 PM

Interesting and spooky video of La Llorona:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5z99EYHY4I

I'm reading the excellent On the Plain of Snakes by Paul Theroux just now, and I'm mystified by so many aspects of Mexican culture.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: La Llorona
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Oct 21 - 12:09 PM

Good time of year to remember La Llorona:

https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/category/la-llorona/?loclr=fbafc