"El Perro Negro" by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics
"The Black Dog" Lyrics
Style: Corrido (a storytelling style) about a loyal dog
Country: Mexico
Listen:
José Alfredo Jiménez was a famous and prolific Mexican singer-songwriter. Remember his name if you are interested in the music history of Latin America or Mexican culture. His songs created a new mythology in Mexico. He sang about characters and stories. This song is about the murder of Gilberto the Brave, who was killed in his sleep by a cowardly but powerful rival. Gilberto had a loyal dog who avenged his murder. Listen to the story at YouTube here.
[Expand embedded video]
Translation:
Al otro lado del puente
De La Piedad, Michoacán,
Vivía Gilberto el Valiente,
Nacido en Apatzingán.
On the other side of the bridge
Of La Piedad, Michoacán,
Lived Gilberto the Brave,
Born in Apatzingán.
Siempre con un perro negro
Que era su noble guardián.
Always with a black dog
That was his noble guardian.
Quería vivir con la Lupe,
La novia de don Julián,
Hombre de mucho dinero,
Acostumbrado a mandar.
He wanted to live with Lupe,
The girlfriend of Don Julian, [*Don is like sir in that it is used to denote higher social status]
Man of a lot of money,
Used to being in charge. [*mandar (verb) = to give orders]
Él ya sabía de Gilberto
Y lo pensaba matar.
He already knew about Gilberto
And intended to kill him.
[Full translation moved to songlations.com]
Style: Corrido (a storytelling style) about a loyal dog
Country: Mexico
Listen:
José Alfredo Jiménez was a famous and prolific Mexican singer-songwriter. Remember his name if you are interested in the music history of Latin America or Mexican culture. His songs created a new mythology in Mexico. He sang about characters and stories. This song is about the murder of Gilberto the Brave, who was killed in his sleep by a cowardly but powerful rival. Gilberto had a loyal dog who avenged his murder. Listen to the story at YouTube here.
[Expand embedded video]
Click to viewTranslation:
Al otro lado del puente
De La Piedad, Michoacán,
Vivía Gilberto el Valiente,
Nacido en Apatzingán.
On the other side of the bridge
Of La Piedad, Michoacán,
Lived Gilberto the Brave,
Born in Apatzingán.
Siempre con un perro negro
Que era su noble guardián.
Always with a black dog
That was his noble guardian.
Quería vivir con la Lupe,
La novia de don Julián,
Hombre de mucho dinero,
Acostumbrado a mandar.
He wanted to live with Lupe,
The girlfriend of Don Julian, [*Don is like sir in that it is used to denote higher social status]
Man of a lot of money,
Used to being in charge. [*mandar (verb) = to give orders]
Él ya sabía de Gilberto
Y lo pensaba matar.
He already knew about Gilberto
And intended to kill him.
[Full translation moved to songlations.com]