Translation of the song El obispo y los presos artist Luis Martínez Hinojosa
El obispo y los presos
The bishop and the prisoners
Están llamando al obispo
They're calling the bishop
para casar a los presos,
to come marry the prisoners,
están llamando al obispo
they're calling the bishop
para casar a los presos.
to come marry the prisoners.
Porque ya la libertad
Because freedom has now
en el juzgado se ha muerto,
died in the courts,
ellos no pueden salir
they will not be freed
y a su amada darle un beso.
and they can't kiss their beloved
Y tampoco pueden ver
nor can they see
a sus parientes enfermos
their sick family members
porque a la libertad
because sometimes
a veces le ponen precio.
they put a price on freedom.
Ya está llegando el obispo
The bishop is on his way
para casar a los presos...
to marry the prisoners.
Ya está llegando el obispo
The bishop is on his way
y la puerta se está abriendo,
and the door is being opened,
ya está llegando el obispo
the bishop is on his way
y la puerta se está abriendo.
and the door is being opened.
Las paredes de la cárcel
Within the prison walls
tienen un horrible techo,
they have a horrible roof,
no tienen cielo ni estrellas,
it has no sky nor stars,
ni nubes con aguacero.
nor clouds to downpour.
Se duermen en los ladrillos
They sleep on bricks
donde rebotan los sesos,
where reason is cast aside, 1
la vida sin libertad
life without freedom
es como caja de muerto.
is like a coffin. lit. 'a death box'.
Ya está casando el obispo
The bishop is marrying
a los que aman en silencio...
those who love in silence.
El obispo los casó
The bishop has married them
y les dejó la verdad,
and has left behind the truth,
el obispo los casó
the bishop has married them
y les dejó la verdad.
and he left behind the truth.
Cuando ya el cielo se cubre
When the sky has finally been covered
con capa de oscuridad
in a shroud of darkness,
los presos piden al cielo
the prisoners pray to the heavens
un abogado legal.
for a defender of the law. 2
Que no se parezca a Judas
May he3 not be like Judas
y les dé su libertad
and may they be granted freedom,
y a un juez que ya represente
and may a judge represent
a la ley y la verdad.
both the law and the truth.
Ya los casó el obispo,
The bishop has already married them,
les falta la libertad...
all they need is freedom.