Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)

Subject: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 12:47 PM

This is the song to which the foppish 40's Don danced with the lovely lady who didn't know he was Zorro yet... something or other mi sombrero blanco, something else mi sombrer' azul... catchy tune, anybody know the song? It is referred to in a thread about something totally else but otherwise I could find nothing in the Trad or on the Internet for this one... thanks, and feel free to link to that Songs in Movies thread I also couldn't find.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 07:03 PM

Oh, come on, now! I think it's Mexican?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 09:24 PM

Mrr, all I found was that it was an 'arrangement' of a Mexcian folk song. Didn't find the song or anything else. Supposedly 'similar' to the song El Sombrero....The song in Zorro is appparently 'slowed down' to a dance tempo from the folk song, but no real luck. Sorry....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: Don Firth
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 09:56 PM

The best I could suggest is to check your local public library (free) or Blockbuster or what have you for the videotape. It is available HERE. Play the tape, write fast.

One of the finest swashbuckers ever made and the best duel scene in any movie, by far. Both Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone were excellent fencers, and although Fred Cavins is listed as the fight director, Power and Rathbone choreographed the duel in the alcalde's study themselves. The only quibble would be that their fencing was the modern Hungarian-Italian style of saber-play and they used modern competition fencing sabers. But I don't mind a little anachronism when I can watch fencing that good.

More than you really wanted to know. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Jun 05 - 10:23 PM

Sony is putting out the soundtrack to the movie, but Amazon hasn't got it yet. Probably has poor version of the folk song from California.

"El Sombrero Blanco" was a folk song recorded from the Villa Family and others of California in 1904 by Lummis; sheet music is in the several volume "Los Californios" transcribed by V. M. Gray. Available from San Diego Friends of Old Time Music. See: Los Californios
A cd of the real Californios music, including "El Sombrero Blanco," is available for $15.
Order form: http://order.loscalifornios.com

An old Mexican song with the title "El Sombrero", not the one you are looking for:
El sombrero que me pongo,
lo traje de San Martin;
a veces que me lo pongo
vengo a escuchar el violin
y me pongo mi jorongo.
(And probably dozens of others)

An earlier "The Mask of Zorro" with Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell (1940) was titled "El Sombrero Blanco," and also used the song.

Subject: Lyr Add: EL SOMBRERO BLANCO
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 12:46 AM

Lyr. Add: EL SOMBRERO BLANCO
(Californios folk song, 19th c.)

1.
Si quieras que yo te quiera
mande enladrillar el mar,
y después de enladrillado,
soy tuya y puedes mandar.

Es possible, padre mio,
que me sí es a padecer,
y que vaya a pasar trabajos
por faltando de la mujer.

(Estribillo- refrain))
¿Quieres que te ponga mi sombrero blanco?
¿Quieres que te ponga mi sombrero azul?
¿Quieres que te siente mi vida en su trono
para que te cante el tu-run tun-tun,
el tu-run tun-tun?

2.
La cal está en la lancha,
la arenita en el mar.
Y los peces son los ladrillos-
ya está enladrillado el mar.

Las aguas cojo por el agua.
Las arenas por la sal.
Y los peces son los ladrillos-
ya está enladrillado el mar.

Estribillo

3. Si quieras que yo te quiera,
ha de ser de condición-
que lo tuyo ha de ser mío
y lo mío tuyo no.

Si quieras que yo te quiera
mande enladrillar el mar,
y después de enladrillado,
soy tuya y puedes mandar.

Estribillo

El Sombrero blanco

Californios folk song used in the Zorro films of 1940 and 2005.
From the cd "Los Californios, Flowers of Our Lost Romance," songs and dance music of early (19th c.) California. "El Sombrero blanco" is not known in Mexico; it seems to have originated with the Californios.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 11:41 AM

Q - I was referring to the old Zorro.

Don Firth - great to know! It is one of the best fencing scenes ever, rivalling the one between Errol Flynn as Robin Hood and Rasil Bathbone again, this time as the evil Guy of Gisbourne, where they fence away from their shadows and then back again, great movie swashbuckling indeed!

And thanks for pointing out the anachronism, I kind of collect those but didn't have the ken to notice that one.

Those of you who can understand Spanish, listen to Los Californios (thanks, Q, again) and tell me how the song goes? Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Sombrero Blanco
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Jun 05 - 12:53 PM

The song (used in the dance sequence) is not on the soundtrack recording from The Mask of Zorro.

The folk song is often played as a waltz; don't know when it was so arranged.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 08:27 AM

Thanks, Q! Boy, this forum never lets me down, but this must be some kind of record - entire days! Where's my instant grats?

Not to mention - what do the lyrics mean? The refrain translates through Babelfish as "You want that it puts my white hat to you? You want that it puts my blue hat to you? You want that it feels my life to you in its throne so that tun-tun sings your-run to you, your-run tun-tun?" which I take to mean Do you want me to put my white/blue hat on you, do you want to feel my life on a throne as you sing tra la tra la? ???

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 03:03 PM

I doubt that the song was ever sung in English. I will post a poor literal trans. when I get time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jun 05 - 01:07 AM

TRANSLATION 0 PLEASE

It appears you HAVE the TIME...just not the promised priority.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 30 Jun 05 - 09:03 AM

Q - That guest wasn't me. Just FYI. Thanks,

-Mrrzy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 30 Jun 05 - 01:12 PM

Mrr, I am sorry, but my attempt is worse than babelfish. I have pm'd Escamillo, and hope that he will try.
(Hmmm, was that guest gargoyle in disguise?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 01 Jul 05 - 01:23 PM

Hee, hee! Worse than Babelfish is really a riot! AThanks, and I'll ask around my castellanophone friends too...

Subject: Lyr Add: EL SOMBRERO BLANCO / THE WHITE HAT
From: Escamillo
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 02:59 AM

Q, Mrr, I´ve found that my personal message to Q on Aug 29 did not include the translation into English, because I wrote "less than" symbols after each verse and then the English translation. I forgot that the "less than" symbol does strange HTML things in the text, and then all the English lines DISAPPEARED!

Here is another try, I hope it reads ok:

Si quieras que yo te quiera :: if you want me to love you

mande enladrillar el mar, :: first get the sea paved with bricks

y después de enladrillado, :: and after it´s so paved

soy tuya y puedes mandar. :: I am yours and you rule.

Es possible, padre mio, :: My father, could it be possible

que me sí es a padecer, :: I am to suffer so much

y que vaya a pasar trabajos :: and to work so hard

por faltando de la mujer. :: for the woman I lack of ?


(Estribillo- refrain))
¿Quieres que te ponga mi sombrero blanco? :: Do you want to wear my white hat?

¿Quieres que te ponga mi sombrero azul? :: Do you want to wear my blue hat ?

Quieres que te siente mi vida en su trono :: my life, you want I sit you on your throne?

para que te cante el tu-run tun-tun,:: to sing for you the too-roon-toon-toon??

el tu-run tun-tun?

2.
La cal está en la lancha, :: The lime is in the boat,

la arenita en el mar. :: the sand is in the sea.

Y los peces son los ladrillos :: and the fish are the bricks-

ya está enladrillado el mar. :: the sea has been paved.

Las aguas cojo por el agua. :: I take the waters by the water,

Las arenas por la sal. :: and the sands by the salt

Y los peces son los ladrillos- ::and the fish are the bricks-

ya está enladrillado el mar. :: the sea has been paved.
Estribillo

3. Si quieras que yo te quiera,:: If you want me to love you

ha de ser de condición- :: a condition must be met,

que lo tuyo ha de ser mío :: that everything yours will be mine

y lo mío tuyo no.   :: and everything mine yours not.

Best regards and
un abrazo
Andrés, in Buenos Aires

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Marco
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 04:09 PM

Hello,

    I have tried very hard to find out more about the apparent arrangement of this song that is played in The Mask of Zorro. I have also tried to find out who the musicians are that appear in the movie. It is a shame this song was not part of the soundtrack because it is a rare and beautifuly executed piece. The instrumentation that appears in the movie is very uncommnon. It is not a mariachi band and it isn't a symphony, its a fusion of both. Some of the instruments that appear on the movie are also rare.
    If this song is indeed an arrangement of the old californian song "El Sombrero Blanco", then there is no doubt that whoever did this is a very talented person that deeply understands this music and that certainly has some knowlege of old Californian music. For those who know about Mexican folkoric music, the song in the movie is something you don't hear a lot. Instrumental huapangos that have feature somekind of soloist, in this case the trumpet. I think of this as a new genre of Mexican music where instruments in a huapango, not singers, take on the melody.   
   I was absolutly thrilled when I heard this piece in the movie. Some say it was the best music in the movie. Maybe thats why James Horner decided not to include it in the Soundtrack, because people would buy it and remember it more for that song than for his compositions which I think are great but not as great as this song.
   It would be fantastic if someone found more info. I guess the only way is to talk to James Horner himself.
   I have transcribed this piece to music based on what I heard in the movie. My brother plays the trumpet and I back him up with the guitar playing huapango. When we play it to people they are thrilled because it is powerful passionate music that they have never heard.


                                                --Marco--
p.s. You can contact me at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,gergana
Date: 01 Jul 07 - 04:32 PM

Could someone give me a link to the song? Please!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Singingwolf
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 04:32 PM

The music is arranged from an old Argentinian Folk song with a Waltz movement - in fact in the film- the mask of zorro- the two are not really doing a straight tango .. it is a mixture of both early tango dance steps and the argentinian Valz - which was a popular(of the people) dance step and not commonly played in well to do households. Tha Argentinian Valz has a number of similarities to the movements chosen for Tha Mask Of Zorro.. but I can definitely say that the song El Sombrero Blanco is decidedly nothing similar to the music played in the film... what a fuss.. it would have taken so little to listen to a version of it and the differnce would have been obvious to anyone..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 09:24 PM

The music in the film, as I understand it, is an old Spanish tune, brought to the Americas, and played by the 19th c. Californios; "El Sombrero Blanco," (posts of Q, 28 Jun 05) and Escamillo (13 Sept 05), collected by Charles Lummis in 1904.
It is listed by The Folk Dance Federation of California, Inc., as early Californian.

It also is extant in Argentina, according to the website I linked, but I have no knowledge of the Argentine music or how similar it might be.

Singingwolf, do you have the lyrics to the Argentine "El Sombrero Blanco"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 06:21 PM

Nothing is ever simple....CARAJO!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 06 Nov 10 - 02:18 PM

I believe you will find this music, El Sombrero Blanco, is playing in the background during the movie 'My Darling Clementine', though I cannot remember exactly when.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,chile
Date: 11 Oct 13 - 11:55 PM

muchas gracias por este foro siempre estuve buscando el origen de esta cancion gracias california por conservar esta musica hermosa

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Pamela Parizo
Date: 26 Nov 14 - 03:05 PM

El Sombrero Blanco (the music) is on Youtube. Google it. And it is playing in the background in My Darling Clementine when Henry Fonda is playing cards in the saloon and Doc Holliday walks in, about 22 minutes into the movie. Coming from Southern California, I love that old Spanish music.   By the way, the 1940 version of the Zorro movie is "The MARK of Zorro", not the Mask.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: El Sombrero Blanco (from Zorro)
From: GUEST,Guest-Poncho
Date: 20 Sep 15 - 10:51 AM

My translation for the lyrics in the 1940 Mark of Zorro movie are:

It is possible, my Father,
That I shall come to suffer,
And that troubles shall come to pass,
By the fault of a woman.

Let my white hat be put on you,
Let my blue hat be put on you,
Let yourself sleep like a child in my arms,
Let me sing to you aru, aru, aru, aru (lullaby sounds in Spanish)

According to "The 1910 Trip of the H.M.M.B.A. to California and the Pacific Coast" (page 211) on Google Books, the song was sung as men and women danced. Acceptance to wear the man's hat by the lady signified acceptance of his suit. The lyrics in this book are somewhat different from those in the Mark of Zorro.