Translation of the song Balada de Tolito artist Joaquin Sabina
Balada de Tolito
Tolito's ballad
Tolito tiene un dado y una paloma,
Tolito has a die and a dove,
una tos y una copa llena de vino,
a cough and a glass full of wine,
y unas ropas con polvo de los caminos,
and some ropes with dirt from the roads,
caminos que jamás llevaban a Roma.
roads that never would lead to Rome.
Mago de las barajas y la sonrisa,
Magician of the decks of cards and smiles,
malabarista errante de las plazuelas,
roaming juggler of the open plazas,
corazón que le sale por la camisa,
heart that comes out through the shirt,
botas de andar sin prisa ni mediasuela.
walking boots without hurry nor half sole.
Empieza la función, pongan atención,
The performance begins, pay attention,
el circo cabe en un asiento del vagón.
the circus fits in a seat of the carriage.
Empieza la función, pongan atención,
The performance begins, pay attention,
billete de segunda, próxima estación.
second-rate ticket, next station.
A no ser por el alma y por la melena,
Had it not been for the soul and for the long hair,
de sus vecinos no se distinguiría.
from his neighbours he wouldn't be distinguished.
Su oficio es retorcerle el cuello a la pena
His profession is to turn his neck to pain
y abrir una ventana a la fantasía.
and open the window to fantasy.
Para dormir a pierna suelta le basta
In order to sleep like a log it's enough for him
con tener para vino, pan y tabaco.
to have wine, bread and tobacco.
Igual te rifa un peine que echa las cartas
Maybe he raffles your comb that reads the cards
y saca el rey de bastos de tu sobaco.
and takes out the king of clubs from his underarm.
Si quieres verlo, ven, busca en el andén,
If you want to see him, come, look on the platform,
Tolito siempre está bajando de algún tren.
Tolito is always getting off of some train.
Si quieres verlo, ven, busca en el andén,
If you want to see him, come, look on the platform,
Tolito siempre está subiendo al primer tren.
Tolito is always getting on the first train.
Cada vez que se enceuntran dos caminantes,
Each time that two wanderers meet,
se cuentan sus andanzas y sus querellas,
they tell their adventures and their quarrels,
le cuelgan a la noche un interrogante
they hang on the night a question mark
y llegan hasta el fondo de las botellas.
and they arrive to the end of the bottles.
Luego, entre cuatro muros y dos escuetos
Later, between four walls and two simple
colchones, rescatados de la miseria,
mattresses, rescued from misery,
se intercambian los trucos y los secretos
they exchange tricks and secrets
del arte de ir rodando de feria en feria.
from the art of going around from fair to fair.
“Ponnos dos copas más antes de cerrar,
Give us two more cups before closing,
morirse debe ser dejar de caminar.
dying should be to stop walking.
Ponnos dos copas más antes de cerrar,
Give us two more cups before closing,
hoy bebo a tu salud, mañana Dios dirá.”
today I drink to your health, tomorrow time will tell.