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Abilene
Abilene, Abilene
Prettiest town I've ever seen
Ain't nobody gonna treat you mean in Abilene
I don't know what I've been told
Get your lovin' before you get too old
High-toned woman ain't got no soul
Treat you mean, Oh, Abilene
Saddest day I ever seen
The day I caught the 219
Watched you wave and lost a dream
In Abilene, in Abilene
How well I remember
It's all coming back to me in
Abilene, Abilene
Prettiest town I've ever seen
Ain't nobody gonna treat you mean in Abilene
Ain't no fun bummin' 'round
One thing baby that I've found
A man's own cryin' is one mournful sound
Abilene, Abilene
Soft brown eyes, chestnut hair
Like an angel standin' there
Making people stop and stare
In Abilene, my Abilene
Abilene (Abilene), Abilene (Abilene)
Prettiest town I've ever seen
Ain't nobody gonna treat you mean in Abilene
Ain't nobody gonna treat you mean in Abilene
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Ah, Norah, War Is Over
Norah, darlin', no more cryin'
Happy days are here again
Now the war is over darling
Let us join in this sweet refrain:
Ah, Norah, war is over
Now the war is over, Norah
Ah, Norah, war is over
We can go to (Indiscernible)
Ah, Norah, war is over
You don't have to shout for hunger
Ah, Norah, war is over
Everything is in your favor
Ah, Norah, war is over
("Take it, Bobby!")
Norah, darlin', don't you wonder
Don't you know the war is over
How the country hates potatoes
When they bring them you tell them no!
Ah, Norah, war is over
Now it's over, we will marry
Ah, Norah, war is over
We will live luxuriously
Ah, Norah, war is over
You and I will have more plenty
Ah, Norah, war is over
You will have more energy
Ah, Norah, war is over
Norah, we'll go limbo dancing
All the night till one in the morning
And we'll (indiscernible) keep romancing
Then there wouldn't be so much (indiscernible)
Ah, Norah, war is over
You can't have no funny thinking
Ah, Norah, war is over
You won't hear that ships are sinking
Ah, Norah, war is over
You won't hear that troops are moving
Ah, Norah, war is over
You won't here that planes are falling
Ah, Norah, war is over
At the grocery when you're buying
They won't talk about rationing
And she will be only smiling
And to sell you they will be begging
Ah, Norah, war is over
You won't have to look for nothing
Ah, Norah, war is over
You and I will take it easy
Ah, Norah, war is over
Ah, Norah, war is over
Ah, Norah, war is over
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All My Sorrows
One thing in life that money can't buy:
True love that will never die
All my sorrows, Lord, are soon forgotten
Well, it's too late, Love, but never mind
All my sorrows, Lord, are soon forgotten
Lovers walkin' down a country lane
Don't know my grief or feel my pain
All my sorrows, Lord, are soon forgotten
One thing that still bothers my mind
My love is gone and left me behind
All my sorrows, Lord, are soon forgotten
Well, it's too late, Love, but never mind
All my trials, Lord, will soon be over.
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Alma Llanera (Soul of a Plainsman)
(with English Translation)
Yo naci en una ribera
del Arruaca vibrador
oy hermano de la espuma
de las garzas, de las rosas
soy hermano de la espuma
de las garzas, de las rosas
y del sol...y del sol !
Me arrullo la viva Diana
de la brisa en el palmar
y por ese tengo el alma
como el alma primorosa
del cristal...del cristal
Amo, lloro, canto, sueno
con claveles de pasion
con claveles de pasion
amo, lloro, canto, sueno
con claveles de pasion
de pasion de mi amada
Yo naci en una ribera
del Arruaca vibrador
soy hermano de la espuma
de las garzas, de las rosas
soy hermano de la espuma
de las garzas, de las rosas
y del sol...y del sol!
Soul of The Plainsmen
I was born on a bank of the vibrant Arrauca
I am the brother of the spray,
Of the cranes, of the roses,
I am the brother of the spray,
Of the cranes, of the roses
And of the sun, and of the sun.
The live Diana is like the billing and cooing of doves
of the breeze in the palm tree.
and because of this I have the soul
of the dexterous worker
of crystal...of crystal
I love, I cry, I sing, and I dream
With pink flowers of passion.
I love, I cry, I sing, and I dream
With pink flowers of passion
Of the passion of my beloved.
(Repeat first verse)
(Very special thanks to Travis and Rose Marie Edmonson for the lyric and translation.)
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Amor De Calle
(w/ English Translation)
Amor de la calle
Que vendes tus besos
Al cambio de honor
Aunque tu no quieras
Aunque tu lo extranes
En tarden llega
No olvides tu pena
Cantando y bailando
Fingiendo reir
Y el frio de la noche
Castiga tu alma
Y pierdes la fe.
Amor de la calle
Que buscando vas carino
Con tu carita pintada
Con tu carita pintada
Y el corazon herido.
Si tuvieras un carino
Un carino verdadero
Como iqual otras mujeres
Como iqual otras mujeres
Que me han mentido tanto.
Quando has bebido mucho
Vas llorando por la calle
Y si el mundo comprendiera
Pero no saben tu pena.
repeat verses 3, 5, 3.
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Street Lover
Street-lover,
Who sells your kisses
In exchange for honor.
Though you don't love them,
And you're a stranger to him
Who only appears in the afternoon.
You can't forget your grief
Singing and dancing
Feigning laughter.
And the night chill
Punishes your soul
And you lose your faith.
Street-lover
Who goes looking for affection
With your painted face,
Your painted face
And wounded heart
If only you had a sweetheart
A true love;
Like those other women,
Those other women
That have lied to me so much.
When you've had a lot to drink
You go crying through the street.
And if (only) everybody understood,
But they don't know your grief.
(Very special thanks to Michael Weir for the lyric and translation.)
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Banua
Banua, banua, banua, a-o!
Banua, banua, (indiscernable)
The sun comes up in the moring
And the moon comes out at night
But not for me, because you see
Of a kiss in the pale moonlight
Banua, banua, banua, a-o!
Banua, banua, (indiscernable)
And you're a beautiful lady, firelight and guitar
Took my heart, we had to part
And now I cry (indiscernable)
Banua, banua, banua, a-o!
Banua, banua, (indiscernable)
I walked her home in the moonlight
A man appeared at her door
A flash of a knife and he took her life
And I'll cry forevermore
Banua, banua, banua, a-o!
Banua, banua, (indiscernable)
I fought him there in the darkness
I killed him (indiscernable)
And now I'm waiting in Banua
For them to set me free
Banua, banua, banua, a-o!
Banua, banua, (indiscernable)
Banua, banua, banua, a-o!
Banua, banua, (indiscernable)
(quiet)
Banua, banua, banua, a-o!
Banua, banua, (indiscernable)
(loud)
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Better Than Anything
Better than sailing at midnight
Better than diving for pearls
Better than skiing at Aspen
Better than chasing young girls
Better than finding a horseshoe
Better than losing your head
Better than anything thought of
Better than anything said
Better than singing right out loud
Or being spotted in a crowd
Better than anything--
Except being in love
Better than beer from a barrel
Better than wine from a keg
Better than ice cubes and bourbon
Better than two hollow legs
Better than double martinis
Better than vodka that's cold
Better than scotch with a chaser
Better than brandy that's old
Better than drinking from a flask
Or swilling cognac from a cask
Better than anything--
Except being in love
Better than dew on the meadow
Better than wind in the trees
Better than losing a headache
Better than finding your keys
Better than April in Paris
Better than Memphis in June
Better than champaigne for breakfast
Better than sleeping till noon
Better than turning off the phone
So just we two can be alone
Better than anything--
Except being in love
Being in love
Being in love
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Bonsoir Dame
In a green wood close to our village
A quiet pool lies still and deep
The evening sounds and forest birds
Have gently lulled my love to sleep
CHORUS:
Bonsoir Dame, Madame, Fais dodo
(Good Evening Dear, My Dear, go to sleep)
Bonsoir Dame, Madame, Fais dodo
(Good Evening Dear, My Dear, go to sleep)
Bonsoir Dame, Madame, Fais dodo
(Good Evening Dear, My Dear, go to sleep)
Bonsoir Dame, Madame, Fais dodo
(Good Evening Dear, My Dear, go to sleep)
Sing softly birds and don't awake her
She doesn't know how my heart aches
I've never dared to say "I love you"
I'll tell her now, before she wakes
CHORUS
Her pretty mouth is warm and smiling
She lies dreaming peacefully
I'd give my life to know for certain
That she would someday dream of me
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
Fais dodo, petite fille
(Go to sleep, little lady)
Smile for me, dream of me
It seems a pity now to wake her
I'd rather stay here and pretend
If we could only stay forever
Then our dreams would never end
CHORUS
(very special thanks to Berkeley Bush for the lyric and translation)
Brown Eyes
One evening when the sun was low
My Brown Eyes whispered, "I must go."
Not one moment would she wait
She kissed me then she left the gate
Those brown eyes I loved so well
Those brown eyes I long to see
How I long for those brown eyes (those brown eyes, those brown eyes)
Strangers they have grown to be (those brown eyes, those brown eyes)
Just one year ago today
They laid my own Brown Eyes away (sleep my love, sleep my love)
Now in heaven for all to see
My brown-eyed angel waits for me
Those brown eyes I loved so well
Those brown eyes I long to see
How I long for those brown eyes (those brown eyes, those brown eyes)
Strangers they have grown to be (those brown eyes, those brown eyes)
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Carmen Carmella
Carmen Carmella, you made the sun shine
You warmed my days for a little while
And though you've left me to grieve forever
I know I'll never forget your smile
As the warm rays of sunset die in the west
And tell me the day is through
My heart and I know my dreams have vanished forever
Slowly my faith dies, too
Carmen Carmella, why did you leave me?
My life will always be dark, I know
Bring back the blue skies, bring back your soft eyes
Carmen Carmella, I love you so
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Cielito Lindo Son Huasteco
De domingo a domingo te vengo a ver
Cuando sera domingo, cielito lindo, para volver?
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay!
Yo bien quisiera
Que toda la semana, cielito lindo, domingo fuera,
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay!
Una flecha en el aire
Tiro Cupido
Que lanza tu nombre de mis recuerdos
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay!
Yo bien quisiera
Que cuando sera domingo, cielito lindo, para volver,
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay!
(very special thanks to Don and Victoria Armstrong for this lyric)
The Clock
We're just two lovers left here all alone
The candles low, the waiter's going home
The ashtrays all are emptied, the music has been stopped
We listen to the ticking of the clock
Tomorrow was to be our wedding day
Now the time has flown
We're just two lovers left here all alone
Each one in love with someone else we've known
We drink a toast to sadness, then we break the cup
Our love is through, and now the time is up
Who'd ever think that our love affair
At last had gone
We're just two lovers left here all alone
The candle's out, the waiter has gone home
The ashtrays all are emptied, the music has been stopped
We listen to the ticking of the clock
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Cloudy Summer Afternoon
On a cloudy summer afternoon
We sat and waited for the raindrops
Never noticed when the rain stopped
Fell in love
Fell in love
Time was passing by, the shadows fell
We never noticed when the rain stopped
The pitter-patter of the raindrops
Fell in love
We read the paper as we lay on the floor
We smoked our last cigarette
Nothing was said for an hour or more
But I can never forget . . .
On a cloudy summer afternoon
We sat and waited for the raindrops
Never noticed when the rain stopped
Fell in love
Fell in love
We read the paper as we lay on the floor
We smoked our last cigarette
Nothing was said for an hour or more
But I can never forget . . .
On a cloudy summer afternoon
We sat and waited for the raindrops
Never noticed when the rain stopped
Fell in love
Fell in love
Fell in love
Fell in love
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Delia's Gone
Delia's gone, Delia's gone, Delia's gone
One more round
Delia's gone
Now Delia cursed Tony
On a Sare-day night
("What'd she say, Daddy?")
Cursed him such a wicked curse
That he swear he'll take her life
Delia's gone, Delia's gone, Delia's gone
One more round
Delia's gone
First time he shot her, shot her right beside
Second time he shot her, Lord, she gave up the ghost and died
Delia's gone, Delia's gone, Delia's gone
One more round
Delia's gone
Tony is a-drinkin' from a prison cup
And Delia, she is lyin' in the grave doin' level-best to get up
Delia's gone, Delia's gone, Delia's gone
One more round
Delia's gone
"Jailer," Tony said, "Jailer, how can I sleep?
When all along my bedside I can hear poor Delia speak?"
Delia's gone, Delia's gone, Delia's gone
One more round
Delia's gone
Some gave her a nickel ("I did!"), some gave her a dime
("Some gave her green stamps!")
I didn't give her one red cent
'Cuz she weren't no friend of mine
Delia's gone, Delia's gone, Delia's gone
One more round
Delia's gone
"Sixty years?" Said Tony, "That ain't no time!
My brother's in the penitentiary doin' nine hundred ninety and nine!"
Delia's gone, Delia's gone, Delia's gone
One more round
Delia's gone
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Down In The Valley
Down in the valley, valley so low
Late in the evening, hear the wind blow
Hear the wind blow, Love, hear the wind blow
Late in the evening, hear the wind blow
Write me a letter, send it by mail
Send it in care of Bermingham Jail
Bermingham Jail, Love, Bermingham Jail
Send it in care of Bermingham Jail
If you don't love me, love whom you please
Throw your arms 'round me, give my heart ease
Build me a castle up to the sky
So I can see here as she rides by
Down in the valley, valley so low
Late in the evening, hear the wind blow
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Elijah Rock
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Way back when the world was full of sin
(Elijah Rock--shout, shout!)
There was one good man, like there's always been
(Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!)
His name was Elijah and I heard it said
(Elijah Rock--shout, shout!)
He could heal the sick and raise the dead
(Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!)
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Elijah told everybody to pray
To a God up in Heaven not a god of clay
Went to the rock and he cried his name
Told him what to do when the Judgement came
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Prayed for the Lord to give him a sign
And the Rock cried out, "Well, it's Judgement time."
Lord spoke out with a tongue of flame
Sayin', "Hear, Elijah, and know my name."
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Well, then the Lord told Elijah when his time had come
(Elijah Rock--shout, shout!)
Said he was a prophet for what he'd done
(Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!)
Rock cried out and said, "Shout, shout!"
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
(soft)
Elijah Rock--shout, shout!
Said, Elijah Rock, comin' up, Lord!
(loud)
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En De Que Te Vi
(w/ English Summary)
As you'll see, there are a few gaps where the translator could not pick up the words. If anyone can fill them in, please drop me a line. Also e-mail if you'd like to take a stab at a more word-for-word translation.
Un dia de mananita sali a recorrer la hacienda
y me encontre con mi vieja que se encontraba solita
y le dije al punto, vidita tu sabes cuanto la quiero
yo soy un mozo sincero que su amor le solicita
y espero qu'usted permita que sea su amor primero
En de que te vi, que te quiero, en de que te vi, que te adoro
cerca a ti, mi lucero, cerca a ti, mi tesoro
porque te tengo que querer, porque te tengo que adorar
porque te tengo que querer aunque tu mama no me quiera ver
No tengo mucho dinero para comprar (?) el ranchito
pero le juro y le digo que soy un guazo sincero
(?) y saldre a buscar fortuna
y hasta que encuentre una me recorrere el mundo entero
por eso un besito espero de tu boquita de espuma
En de que te vi, etc
(Early in the morning, whilst running around the farmyard, he [the singer] met his sweetheart, was alone, and declares his love for her. He says that from the first moment he saw her, he loved and adored her. He cannot help himself loving her, even though her mother cannot stand him. He doesn't have enough money to buy a farm but he promises her that he is sincere and he is ready to go out in the world to become rich, and all he wants now is a kiss from her.)
(Very special thanks to Bill Worsfold for the lyric and summary)
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Fiesta In Guadalajara
When it's fiesta time in Guadalajara
How I long to be back once again in old Mejico
Where we live for today, never giving a thought to tomorrow
And the strumming of guitars
In a hundred grubby bars
We would whisper: "Te amo."
The mariachis would serenade
And they would not shut up till they were paid
We ate, we drank, and we were merry
And we got typhoid and beri-beri
But best of all, I remember the plaza de toros
Whenever I start feeling morose
I revive by recalling that scene
And names like Ben Montero, Domingin and Manolente
If I live to be a hundred and tente
I'll never forget what they mean
Out stepped the matador who must have been potted or
Slightly insane but who looked rather bored
And the picadors, of course, each one on his horse
And I shouted "Ole!" every time one got gored
Then the matador did what we wanted him to
Raised his sword and his aim was true
In that moment of truth--
I suddenly knew--
That someone had stolen my wallet!
Now it's fiesta time in Akron, Ohio
But it's back to old Guadalajara I'm longing to go
Far away from the strikes of the AF of L and CIO
And the strumming of guitars
In a hundred grubby bars
And forget the Alamo!
In old Mejico!
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Florecita De Mi Cielo
(w/ English Summary)
If you'd like to take a stab at a more word-for-word translation of this song, drop me a line.
La tierra es por ti jardin celestial donde una flor
nacio para ser estrella vez de perfume y luz
de luz virginal que da tu ninez porque un amor
le hizo nacer que alumbra esa flor y que eres tu.
Luna no esta bien y vive mas por ti mi paraguayita
y engendra un que enciende in mi llamas de ilusion
de dulce ilusion que con su candor al arullo encita
y que hace reinar en el cielo azul de mi corazon.
(The song is full of metaphors. Essentially, the singer says that earth is like heaven to him because of her. She is like a flower that perfumes and
brightens up the world. He also compares her to the moon, which encites flames of passion, making her the queen of his heart.)
(Very special thanks to Bill Worsfold for the lyric and translation.)
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