Las Mananitas
We went to a Mexican Restaurant that just opened up near us for Jane’s birthday. The waiter offered to sing Happy Birthday in spanish! Great, I thought. That would be impressive. I was wrong. What we got was “Feliz cumpleanos, a ti, Feliz compleanos a ti…” how cheesy! What I was expecting and looking forward to was a rendition of the song Las mananitas. My Mom and sisters would sometimes call me on the phone on my Birthday and sing it to me. It’s a beautiful Mexican song whose lyrics read like love poems. Here is more about the song which I found at About.com:
As a traditional song with a long history, there are variations of Las Mañanitas, with many different verses. At most Mexican parties only the first two verses are sung, but I have included some additional verses that are occasionally sung, particularly when it’s sung by mariachis or in a formal setting.
Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.
Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.
Translation:
This is the morning song that King David sang
Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you
Wake up, my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn
The birds are already singing and the moon has set
How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you
The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light
Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn
Additional verses:
El día en que tu naciste nacieron todas las flores
En la pila del bautismo, cantaron los ruiseñores
The day you were born all the flowers were born
On the baptismal font the nightingales sang
Quisiera ser solecito para entrar por tu ventana
y darte los buenos días acostadita en tu cama
I would like to be the sunshine to enter through your window
to wish you good morning while you’re lying in your bed
Quisiera ser un San Juan, quisiera ser un San Pedro
Para venirte a cantar con la música del cielo
I would like to be a Saint John I would like to be a Saint Peter
To sing to you with the music of heaven
De las estrellas del cielo tengo que bajarte dos
una para saludarte y otra para decirte adiós
One with which to greet you and the other to wish you goodbye
Go here to read more about what I used to embed the song above.