Negra María

Brunette, brunette
Mary was born
and she's in the cradle.
She was born in the daytime,
she'll have good fortune.
Her mother will sew
her long dress.
And she'll enter the party
in a white outfit
and she'll be the queen
when Mary
turns fifteen.

We'll call you, Black Mary...
Black Mary, who opened
her eyes at Carnival.
Mary will have big eyes,
pearly white teeth,
brown skin.
Oh, how red your lips will be,
oh, what a sway your body will have!
Let's go to the dance, come on Mary,
brown-skinned mother, brown-skinned girl.
Black!... The guitars and violins
will sing for you
and the moans of the bandoneon.
We'll call you, Black Mary...
Black Mary, who opened
your eyes at Carnival.
Brunette, brunette
Mary has died
and she's in the cradle.
She left in the daytime
without seeing the moon.
They'll cover your dream
with a white cloth.
And you'll leave this world
in a long dress
and never again,
Black Mary, will you turn fifteen.
We'll mourn you, Black Mary...
Black Mary, you closed
your eyes at Carnival.

Oh, how sad was your fate,
angel of the spot,
brown carnation!
Oh, how dark your bed will be!
Oh, what silence your dream will have!
You're going to heaven, Black Mary...
The mother cries, the girl sleeps.
Black... The guitars and violins
will bleed for you
and the anguish of the bandoneon.
We'll mourn you, Black Mary...
Black Mary, you closed
your eyes at Carnival.