Lyr Add: Corrido La Guera Chabela (Murder)

11 Sep 12 - 05:00 PM (#3402995)
Subject: Lyr Add: Corrido La Guera Chabela (Murder)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

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11 Sep 12 - 10:30 PM (#3403149)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Corrido La Guera Chabela (Murder)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Lyr. Add: La Güera *Chabala
Jesús Cadenas, alternate title

1
Andaba Jesús Cadenas
pasiándose en un fandango
diciéndole a sus amigos:
"esa güra yo la mando."
2
Les decía Jesús Cadenas:
"ese güera yo la mando,
les daré satisfacción,
no se anden equivocando."
3
Decía su comadre Antonia:
"Chabala, no andes bailando
qui ahí anda Jesús Cadenas
que nomás te anda tantiando."
4
"¡Ay!," le contestó Chabela
soltando fuerte risada,
"no tenga miedo, comadre,
ya conozco mi güeyada."
5
Pero este Jesús Cadenas,
como era hombre de sus brazos,
echó mano a su pistola
para darle de balazos.
6
Decía su comadre Antonia:
"Compadre, pase pa' dentro
a tomarse una cervesa,
que se le borre ese intento."
7
No quiso corresponder
por ninguna distinción;
quatro balazos le dió
del lado del corazón.
8
Decía la güera Chabala
agarrándose el vestido:
"pongan cuidado, muchachas,
donde me pegó ese tiro."
9
Decía la güera Chabala
apretándose las manos:
"Ya no se apuren, muchachas,
que allí vienen mis hermanos."
10
Salió su papá de adentro
con las lágrimas rodando:
"¿Qué, tienes, güera Chabala,
por qué te vienes quejando?"
11
¡Ay!"- le contestó Chabala-,
"solo Dios sabrá hasta cuándo
esto me habrá sucedido
por andarlos mancornando."
12
Su pobre madre lloraba,
lloraba muy afligida:
¿Quién ha sido ese malvado
que te ha quitado la vida?"
13
Decía la güera Chabala,
cuando se estaba muriendo:
"Pongan cuidado, muchachas,
miren cómo van viviendo."
14
Ya con ésta me despido,
con la flor de la **cirgüela,
y aquí se acaba el corrido
de Cadenas y Chabala.

Translation to follow.

Frances Toor, 1947 and printings, "A Treasury of Mexican Folkways," Crown Publishers, pp. 398-400, with musical score.

*Chabala is an uncommon variant of Chabela, a nickname for Isabel.
**Cirgüela is the red currant bush.

Later, I will post a version from California, titled "Jesús Cadenas," that is more complete and grammatically better.

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11 Sep 12 - 11:26 PM (#3403174)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Corrido La Guera Chabela (Murder)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

La Güera Chabela

Jesüs Cadenas was out
Enjoying himself in a fandango,
Telling all his friends,
"I'm boss of that blonde."
2
Jesüs Cadenas said to them,
"I'm boss of that blonde.
I'll give you satisfaction,
Don't fool yourselves.
3
Her godmother said,
"Chabela, don't go dancing;
Here is Jesüs Cadenas,
Trying you out."
4
"Ay," Chabela answered her,
Laughing loudly,
"I'm not afraid, godmother,
I know my man."
5
But this Jesüs Cadenas,
As he was a man of action,
Put his hand on his pistol
To fill her with bullets.
6
Said her godmother, Antonia,
"Come inside, compadre,
To take a beer
So as to forget your intent."
7
He did not answer
For any consideration;
Four bullets he gave her
On the side of her heart.
8
Said the blonde Chabela,
Taking hold of her dress,
"Pay attention, girls,
Where that bullet entered."
9
Said the blonde Chabela,
Pressing her hands together,
"Don't worry any more, girls,
There come my brothers."
10
Her father came outside,
His tears flowing,
"What is wrong, blonde Chabela,
Why are you complaining?"
11
"Ay," Chabela answered him,
"Only God knew how soon
This would happen to me
For going about flirting.
12
Her poor mother wept,
Wept, very afflicted,
"Who was this wicked one
Who has taken your life?"
13
Said the blonde Chabela
When she was dying,
"Be careful, girls;
Watch how you live."
14
Now with this I take leave,
With the flower of the *cirgüela,
Here ends the corrido
Of Cadenas and Chabela.

*cirgüela: red currant bush.

This example from Jalisco, recorded by Graciela Amador. The corrido is widespread, collected from California to Mew Mexico, north of the border.
(The translation by Toor, from the Spanish given in the first post, is poor).

Hear this corrido sung by Sparx:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A22hCalibu1M

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14 Sep 12 - 04:53 PM (#3404755)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Corrido La Guera Chabela (Murder)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Jesús Cadenas
(La Güera Chabela)
1
Señores voy a cantarles
de versos una quincena,
para recorder un hombre
llamado Jesús Cadenas.
2
Jesús le dice a José:
-Vamos al baile a la parra
y a cantar una canción
al compás de una guitarra
3
Salieron de San Antonio,
llegaron a San Andrés.
Se tomaron unas copas
y volvieron otra vez.
4
El baile se ha principiado
de mucho compás y corrido.
Chabela andaba en los brazos
de un hombre desconocido.
5
Y el hombre desconocido
con quien bailaba Chabela
le prometía muchas cosas
para que con él se fuera.
6
Decía mi comadre Antonia:
-Chabela no andes bailando,
por aquí pasó Jesús,
y dice que anda tanteando.
7
Le contesta Chabela
con mucha fuerte risada:
-No tenga miedo comadre,
si al cabo no me hace nada.
8
Cuando Jesús se entra al baile
a Chabela se dirigió,
como era la más bonita
Chabela lo desairó.
9
-Yo desairado no quedo,
porque ni nunca he quedado.
Pues, ¿qué pensaría Chabela
que yo era un desdichado?
10
Jesús sacó su pistola
para darle de balazos.
Chabela le respondió:
-Véngase prieto a mis brazos.
11
Le contesta Jesús:
-Quítate de aquí Chabela,
no creas que estás tratando
con un muchacho de escuela.
12
Chabela lo agarró el brazo
metiéndolo para adentro,
brindándole una cerveza
para borrarle el intento.
13
Jesús sacó su pistola,
tres tiros le disparó.
Dos se fueron por el viento,
y uno fué el que le pegó.
14
Decía la güera Chabela,
cuando estaba mal herida:
-Y esto de querer a dos,
comadre, cuesta la vida.
15
Decía la güera Chabela
cuando estaba agonizando:
-Mucho cuidado muchachas
con andarlos mancornando.
16
El balazo lo tenía
al lado del corazón.
Entre dos de sus amigas
la llevaron al panteón.
17
Y con ésta me despido,
y abrochándome una espuela,
ya les canté los versitos
de la traidora Chabela.
18
Ranchito de San José,
estado de Nuevo León.
Murió la güera Chabela
por jugar una traición.

Coll. From José Garcia. With translation (to follow) and musical score.

Terrence L. Hansen, 1959, "Corridos in Southern California," Western Folklore, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 222-224.

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15 Sep 12 - 05:29 PM (#3405274)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Corrido La Guera Chabela (Murder)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Jesús Cadenas
Translation given with the California version posted above.
1
My friends, I am about to sing
verses that may bring me fame,
to remind you of a man,
Jesús Cadenas, his name.
2
Jesuús was telling José,
"Let us go dance down the street
and strike up a merry song,
the guitar to give the beat."
3
They left from San Antonio
and to San Andrés soon came.
After taking a few drinks
they returned not quite the same.
4
The dance had already started,
spirits weren't exactly low.
Chabela was with a man
no one seemed to know.
5
And this man who was unknown,
with whom Chabela danced so gay,
promised her many fine things
if with him she'd run away.
6
Then my * friend Antonia said:
"Chabela, don't dance so steady.
Jesús just went by this way,
and he says he's almost **ready."
7
Chabela is quick to answer
with a burst of laughter bold:
"Don't become frightened, my dear,
he'll only do what he's told."
8
When Jesús entered the dance,
straight to Chabela he walked,
as she was the girl most beautiful,
quite disrespectfully she talked.
9
"I'll not be treated like that
because to date no one dared,
besides, would Chabela think
That I hadn't better fared?"
10
Then Jesús took out his pistol
and to shoot her he took aim.
Chabela gasped and then cried:
"Come to my arms, I'm to blame."
11
Jesús very quickly answered:
"Chabela, leave, you little fool,
remember you are not dealing
with a boy who's still in school."
12
Chabela grabbed him by the arm
and back inside they went,
she then offered him a beer
so he'd forget his intent.
13
With that he drew his pistol,
three shots rang out in the dark,
two were aimed into the wind,
the third squarely hit its mark.
14
Fair Chabela tried to say
when she knew her death was near:
"This business of loving two,
has cost me my life, my dear."
15
Fair Chabela tried to say
as she lay there on the ground:
"Be careful all you young girls,
Don't give men the run around."
16
The bullet entered her body
And next to her heart was buried.
By two of her dearest friends
To the graveyard she was carried.
17
Now with this I bid adieu
And tightly fasten my spur.
I have already sung the verses
Of Chabela, pity her.
18
On the ranch of San Antonio,
Nuevo León, name of the state,
Fair Chabela had to die
For treason, this was her fate.

*The author substitutes "friend" (compadre) for godmother (comadre).
No girl would attend a dance without a female guardian.
**The Spanish verse says he "is lying in wait."

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09 Jun 13 - 02:13 PM (#3524513)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Corrido La Guera Chabela (Murder)
From: GUEST

Did jesus cadenas really exist or is he a myth if u can email me at [e-mail]

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09 Jun 13 - 03:46 PM (#3524529)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Corrido La Guera Chabela (Murder)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

No information on whether he existed or not.

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