Resources for LossMain MenuKathleen M. Coleman3e1b11861089b7035d15e5dc33eb8994155c4ae5
Mariachi Vargas - Las Golondrinas
12019-11-26T17:31:22+00:00Paul G. Johnstone92a8e63bf909f632c1183850db9a324115db2f5731La Más Completa Colección Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan.plain2019-11-26T17:31:22+00:00YouTubeJesse Flores2010-10-03T22:56:11.000ZWkUZeVMiD40Paul G. Johnstone92a8e63bf909f632c1183850db9a324115db2f5
For my contribution, I have chosen "La Golondrina." This song is a traditional Mexican folk song sung in different occasions. It was originally written by Narciso Serradell Sevilla in the 1860s after being exiled from Mexico due to invasion from the French. Many of his fellow exiled Mexicans unified through this song, and it became a song of solidarity amongst the people. My family often plays this song at funerals as well, but I cannot say if that's a universal thing or just my family. Regardless, it exists as an important folk song in Mexican culture that has been recorded many times in many different styles. I have chosen the version by Mariachi Vargas simply because it is most familiar to me.
The song uses the image of a migrated swallow that must leave its home as a parallel to the Mexicans who had to leave their motherland. In the funeral setting, the patria idolatrada can refer to Earth, which the migration referring to the passing into heaven. As for the actual lyrics, here they are along with a rough translation:
Spanish:
A donde irá veloz y fatigada la golondrina que de aquí se va por si en el viento se hallara extraviada buscando abrigo y no lo encontrara.
Junto a mi lecho le pondré su nido en donde pueda la estación pasar también yo estoy en la región perdido O Cielo Santo! y sin poder volar.
Deje también mi patria idolatrada esa mansión que me miró nacer mi vida es hoy errante y angustida y ya no puedo a mi mansión volver.
Ave querida amada peregrina mi corazón al tuyo acercare voy recordando tierna golondrina recordare my patria y llorare.
English:
Where can it go rushed and fatigued the swallow passing by tossed by the wind looking so lost with nowhere to hide.
By my bed I'll put your nest until the season passes. I too, O heaven! am lost in this place unable to fly.
Leave, too my beloved homeland, that home that saw my birth. My life today is wandering, anguished. I cannot return home.
Dearest bird beloved pilgrim, my heart nigh to yours; remember tender swallow, remember my homeland and cry.