Translation of the song Miguel y el panteonero artist Luis Martínez Hinojosa
Miguel y el panteonero
Miguel and the gravedigger
Miguel es un campesino
Miguel is a peasant,
muy pobre de la región
from a very poor region,
y fue a ver al panteonero
and he went to see the gravedigger
pues su nieto se murió.
because his grandson has died.
Se murió sin haber visto
He died without having seen
la luz que en el cielo está
the light up in the sky
en el vientre de la madre
in his mother's womb
se acabó su palpitar.
his heartbeat had stopped.
Mira hermano panteonero
Look, fellow gravedigger
dame un pequeño lugar
give me a small place
para enterrar a mi nieto
where I can bury my grandson
que murió en la oscuridad.
who has died in the darkness.
Si el cuerpo se descompone
If his body decomposes
me multa salubridad
I'll be fined by the public health service
y si me lo llevo al monte
and if I take him to the mountain
me lo van a devorar.
they will devour him there.
Quiero que se vuelva polvo
I want him to turn to ashes
como nuestro padre Adán
like our father Adam
lo sacaron de la tierra
they unearthed him from the land
y ahí se volvió a acostar.
and there again he was laid to rest.
El panteonero le dijo
The gravedigger told him
la sepultura no harás
there will be no funeral for him
si no traes el comprobante
unless you bring proof
del pago a la autoridad.
of payment to the authorities.
Para eso está el tesorero
That's what the sacristan is for
para que puedas pagar
so that one may pay for
el registro cuando naces
one's birth registration
con el derecho a llorar.
with the right to mourn.
Miguel salió del panteón
Miguel left the cemetery
y la puerta no cerró
and he did not close the door
está abierta al que dé
it is open to those who give
dinero al enterrador
money to the gravedigger.
Y Miguel hizo la caja
And Miguel made a box
con el hacha y su sudor
with an ax and his sweat
y se llevó a su nieto
and he took his grandson
y en la milpa lo enterró.
and buried him under a milpa.
Si eres pobre o eres rico
If you're poor or rich
con la muerte dormirás
with death you will sleep
pero ni en el campo santo
but not even in the cemetery
encontramos...
will we find...
encontramos igualdad.
will we find equality.