Translation of the song Manuel artist Joan Manuel Serrat
Manuel
Manuel
Le llamaban Manuel, nació en España,
They would call him Manuel, he was born in Spain,
su casa era de barro, de barro y caña.
his home was of mud, of mud and cane.
Las tierras del señor humedecían
The lands of the master would dampen
su sudor y su llanto, día tras día.
his sweat and his sobbing, day after day.
Mendigo a jornal fijo como él no hubo
A fixed beggar each day as he had nothing
entre olivos y trigos, por un mendrugo.
amongst olives and wheat, to a crust of bread.
Su casa era de barro, de barro y caña,
His home was of mud, of mud and cane,
le llamaban Manuel, nació en España.
they would call him Manuel, he was born in Spain.
Le llamaban Manuel, nació en España,
They would call him Manuel, he was born in Spain,
su mundo era otro mundo, tras la montaña.
his world was of another world, behind the mountain.
Del amo eran las tierras, camino abajo
Of the master were the lands, down the road
las moras y las flores de los ribazos.
the blackberries and flowers of the steep bank.
La mula y los arreos, el pan y el vino,
The mule and the harnesses, the bread and the wine,
los árboles, las piedras y los caminos.
the trees, the rocks and the roads.
Su mundo era otro mundo, tras la montaña,
His world was of another world, behind the mountain,
le llamaban Manuel, nació en España.
they would call him Manuel, he was born in Spain.
Le llamaban Manuel, nació en España,
They would call him Manuel, he was born in Spain,
ella guardaba un hijo en sus entrañas.
she was guarding a child in her entrails.
Nunca nada fue suyo, nada tuvieron,
Never was anything theirs, they had nothing,
por eso lloró tanto cuando murieron.
for this he cried so much when they died.
Él con sus propias manos cavó una fosa
He with his own hands dug a grave
sepultando sus sueños junto a su esposa.
burying his dreams together with his spouse.
Ella guardaba un hijo en sus entrañas,
She was guarding a child in her entrails,
le llamaban Manuel, nació en España.
they would call him Manuel, he was born in Spain.
Le llamaban Manuel, nació en España,
They would call him Manuel, he was born in Spain,
le vieron alejarse una mañana.
they saw him go away one morning
Del amo era el olivo, donde lo hallaron
Of the master was the olive tree, where they found him
y la soga de esparto que desataron.
and the esparto rope that they untied.
Y el pedazo de tierra donde hoy se pudre
And the piece of earth where today he rots
y el trigo que en la sierra su tumba cubre.
and the wheat that in the mountain range covers his tomb.
Le vieron alejarse una mañana.
They saw him go away one morning.
Le llamaban Manuel, nació en España.
They would call him Manuel, he was born in Spain.