Translation of the song La Tortuga artist Mexican Folk
La Tortuga
The Turtle
Atención todos van a escuchar
Attention everyone, you're all going to hear
la triste historia voy a contar
The sad story I'm going to sing,
de una tortuga que un día fue al mar
About a turtle who one day went to the sea,
puso sus huevos en un costal
She laid her eggs in a sack,
de una tortuga que un día fue al mar
About a turtle who one day went to the sea,
puso sus huevos en un costal
She laid her eggs in a sack,
y fué el mareño, los fue a traer
And it was the mareño1 who fetched them,
los fué a vender hasta Ixtaltepec
And went all the way to Ixtaltepec to sell them
y fué el mareño, los fue a traer
And it was the mareño who fetched them,
los fué a vender hasta Ixtaltepec
And went all the way to Ixtaltepec to sell them.
Atención todos vengan a oír
Attention everyone, come and listen
la triste historia voy a seguir
To this sad story that goes:
tibigu güini tan sicaru
*A lovely little turtle,
márusi pañacame guetagú
*I'd be lovelier if it were made into a tamale2
tibigu güini tan sicaru
A lovely little turtle,
márusi pañacame guetagú
I'd be lovelier if it were made into a tamale.
los mareñitos con su costal
The little mareños with their sacks
a la laguna van a pescar
To the lagoon they'll go to fish
para traer, para llevar
To bring, to take
hay tortuguitas del arenal
Oh, little turtles in the quick sand
para traer, para llevar
To bring, to take
hay tortuguitas del arenal
Oh, little turtles in the quick sand.
Mareña linda de mi cantar
Pretty mareña of whom I sing,
por que me matas con tu mirar
Why do you kill me with your gaze,
tu eres hermosa cual una flor
You're beautiful like a flower,
mareña linda de fiel amor
Pretty mareña, loyally in love
tus ojos brillan como el zafir
Your eyes shine like sapphires
y por mirarlos quiero vivir
And a look at them makes me want to live
tus labios rojos como el coral
Your red lips like coral
brindarles quiero flor de rosal
I want to dedicate to them a rose flower.
tibigu güini tan sicaru
A lovely little turtle,
márusi pañacame guetagú
I'd be lovelier if it were made into a tamale
tibigu güini tan sicaru
A lovely little turtle,
márusi pañacame guetagú
I'd be lovelier if it were made into a tamale
tibigu güini tan sicaru
A lovely little turtle,
márusi pañacame guetagú
I'd be lovelier if it were made into a tamale
tibigu güini tan sicaru
A lovely little turtle,
márusi pañacame guetagú
I'd be lovelier if it were made into a tamale
tibigu güini tan sicaru
A lovely little turtle,
márusi pañacame guetagú
I'd be lovelier if it were made into a tamale