Translation of the song Pájaro de rodillas artist Mercedes Sosa
Pájaro de rodillas
Bird on its knees
Cantor que canta es pájaro
Singer who sings is a bird
pechito de semillas
seed filled breast
cantando en la taberna
singing in the tavern
o con la voz enferma
or with a voice very ill
no canta de rodillas
never sing on its knees
Puedes verlo agitando
You can see it its
las alas amarillas
yellow wings flapping
con los ojos cerrados
with shut eyes
y el corazón cansado
and tired heart
mas nunca de rodillas
never more on its knees
mas nunca de rodillas
never more on its knees
No puede el pajarito
The bird cannot
paradito en su horquilla
standing on its bracket
o en la rama más alta
or in the highest branch
o en la humilde gramilla
or in the humble quack grass
ponerse de rodillas
come down on its knees
Hablo del pajarito
I speak of the bird
y de su cancioncilla
and its cute song
que puede nacer cierta
that may be born truth
que puede nacer muerta
that may be born dead
pero no de rodillas
but not on its knees
pero no de rodillas
but not on its knees
No hay canto verdadero
There is no true chant
ni canción tan sencilla
or so simple a song
que el pájaro al cantarla
that to truly deliver
para más entregarla
the bird would sing
la ponga de rodillas
and would bring the bird
Y no defiendo al canto
And it is not the chant
sino a la pajarilla
I defend
de papel que hace un trino
but the tiny paper bird
mañana un desatino
that sings a trill
mas nunca de rodillas
and morrow a blunder
mas nunca de rodillas
never more on its knees
Y el que canta al tirano
And that sings to the tyrant
no es pájaro ni es nada
who is bird not and is naught
es reptil del pantano
but a reptile in the swamp
cloqueando para el amo
only to the master it clucks
de rodilla doblada
on his very bent knee
Cantor que canta es pájaro
Singer who sings is a bird
pechito de semillas
seed filled breast
cantando en la taberna
singing in the tavern
o con la voz enferma
or with a voice very ill
no canta de rodillas
never sing on its knees