Published by La Santa Cecilia (VEVO)
Apr 8, 2013
Produced by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network as part of the #Not1More series at
http://notonemoredeportation.com with support of the abc* Foundation
Lyrics and English translation by Cairaguas
A beautiful melody telling stories based on the real lives of undocumented immigrants. The tone is very matter-of-fact, not angry or bitter, just a melancholy rendition of the challenges that undocumented immigrants face in the United States. I wrote some historical and cultural context for the title of the song in the translation notes. This was a hard one to post. The song itself was translated months ago, but I kept editing the translation notes.
"The video brings together director Alex Rivera and a nearly all undocumented cast portraying their real-life experiences mirrored in the lyrics of the song. The music and the making of the video combine to create a commentary on the state of immigration, the great lengths people will go to in order to provide for their family and loved ones, and the ever-present threat of removal that haunts today's immigrant communities." (USHispanics.com)
ETA 12/5/2013: As per reader suggestion, I updated the translation notes to include two civil rights organizations that are fighting injustices and crimes against immigrants and minorities. If you are moved to donate, these groups do good work!
Translation:
Eva pasando el trapo sobre la mesa, ahí está,
Cuidando que todo brille como una perla
Cuando llegue la patrona que no se vuelva a quejar.
No sea cosa que la acuse de ilegal.
Eva passing the rag over the table, there she is,
Taking care that everything shines like a pearl
(So) when the boss comes, she does not complain again.
Don't let it be that she accuses her of being illegal.
José atiende los jardines; parecen de Disneyland.
Maneja una troca vieja sin la licencia.
No importa si fue taxista allá en su tierra natal;
Eso no cuenta para el Tío Sam.
Jose tends to the gardens; they look like they're from Disneyland.
He drives an old truck without a license.
It does not matter if he was a taxi driver over in his home country;
That does not count for Uncle Sam.
El hielo anda suelto por esas calles.
Nunca se sabe cuando nos va a tocar.
Lloran, los niños lloran a la salida,
Lloran al ver que no llegará mamá.
ICE is loose over those streets. [*ICE = Immigrations and Customs Enforcement; ice = hielo]
We never know when we will be hit. [*alt. We never know when it will be our turn.]
They cry, the children cry at the doorway,
They cry when they see that their mother will not come back.
Uno se queda aquí.
Otro se queda allá.
Eso pasa por salir a trabajar.
One is left here.
Another is left there.
That's what happens when you go out to work.
Martha llegó de niña y sueña con estudiar,
Pero se le hace difícil sin los papeles.
Se quedan con los laureles los que nacieron acá,
Pero ella nunca dejar de luchar.
Martha arrived as a girl and she dreams of studying,
But it is difficult for her without documents.
They keep all the prizes, the ones who were born over here,
But she never stops fighting. [*alt. But she never stops trying.]
El hielo anda suelto por esas calles.
Nunca se sabe cuando nos va a tocar.
Lloran, los niños lloran a la salida,
Lloran al ver que no llegará mamá.
ICE is loose over those streets.
We never know when we will be hit.
They cry, the children cry at the doorway,
They cry when they see that their mother will not come back.
Uno se queda aquí.
Otro se queda allá.
Eso pasa por salir a trabajar.
One is left here.
Another is left there.
That's what happens when you go out to work.
Translation Notes:
No sea cosa que la acuse de ilegal.
Don't let it be that she accuses her of being illegal.
No sea cosa que... = Don't let it be (the case) that...; don't let it be something where...;
El hielo anda suelto por esas calles.
ICE is loose over those streets. [*hielo means ice]
This line is using the Spanish word for frozen water (hielo) to refer to ICE the federal department.
ICE = Immigrations and Customs Enforcement
