And no, Boriké, is not misspelled. It is the Taino name and spelling of Puerto Rico. Borinquen is the Spanish version. The translation and transformation of what the spaniards thought they heard and how the rest of the world endearingly calls the island.
Rafael was a mulatto, a descendant of African and Spaniard ancestry, who had a unique way of poetically bringing to light the plight and economic condition of the jibaro; the peasant farmer, on the island nation of Puerto Rico, during his lifetime. There are no words that I can come up with to describe the genius behind this man's essence and vision. The best I can do is translate one of his works for you and let his magic infiltrate your soul.
Deciding which of his many works to translate was not an easy task. Rafael wrote and composed so many beautiful Ballads, Danzas, Alguinardos,Zarzuelas, Guarachas, Lullabies, Boleros, Waltzes, more than 3,000 in all, that are still very resonate and viable to modern music aficionados. His masterpieces "Preciosa" (Precious), and "Lamento Borincano" (The Lament of the Puerto Rican) are as much part of Puerto Rican culture as are its flag and national anthem. I decided to translate his song "Lamento Borincano" because it captures the sentiment and struggles of his people at a time when Puerto Rico was in a major transition economically and socially.
This particular blog is meant to introduce you to Rafael Hernandez, an exceptional musician, a great patriot and a divinely gifted artist. It is by no means an autobiography of the man. It is my greatest hope that you look up his music, listen to it and in doing so "resurrect" a great legend for future generations.
"LAMENTO BORINCANO"
Sale, loco de contento, con su calgamento para la ciudad, hay! Para la ciudad.
(He goes, ecstatically happy, with his (vegetable) load towards the city, ah! Towards the city.)
Lleva, en su pensamiento, todo un mundo lleno de felicidad, hay! De felicidad.
(Has, in his thoughts (mind), a world filled with happiness, ah! With happiness.)
Piensa remediar la situación, del hogar que es toda su ilusión, si!
(Wants to remedy the situation, of the home that is all his hope, yes!)
Y alegré (And happily)
El jibarito va, candando así, deciendo así, cantando así, por el camino.
(The peasant goes, singing so, saying so, singing so, on the road.)
Si yo vendo la carga, mi Dios querido, un traje a mi viejita voy a comprar.
(If I sale my (vegetable) load, my dear God, a dress for my (wife or elderly mother) I will buy.)
Y alegré (And happily)
Tambien su yegua va, al presentir aquel cantar, es todo un himno de alegría.
(Also the mare goes, feeling that the singing heard is a happy hymn for sure.)
Y en eso le sorprende la luz del día, y llegan al mercado de la ciudad.
(And in that atmosphere the light of day surprises them and they arrive at the market in the city.)
Pasa, la mañana entera, sin que nadie quiera, su carga comprar, hay! Su carga comprar.
(Passes, the whole morning, without anyone wishing to buy his (vegetable) load, ah! His load unsold.)
Todo, todo esta desierto, y el pueblo esta lleno de necesidad, hay! De necesidad.
(Everything, everything is deserted and the town is in great need, ah! In great need.)
Se oye este lamento por doquier (donde quiera), de mi desdichada Borinquen, sí!
(This lament is heard throughout, of my calamitous Borinquen (Puerto Rico), yes!)
Y triste (And unhappily)
El jibarito va, llorando así, pensando así, diciendo así, llorando así, por el camino.
(The peasant goes, crying so, thinking so, saying so, crying so, on the road.)
"Que será de Borinquen, mi Dios querido, que será de mis hijos y de mi hogar?"
(What will become of Borinquen, my dear God, what will become of my children and my home?)
Oh Borinquen! La tierra del Edén, la que al cantar, el gran Gautier, llamo la perla de los mares.
(Oh Borinquen! The land of Eden, the one sang by, the great Gautier (famous Puerto Rican Poet), (who) proclaimed (it) the pearl of the seas.)
Ahora que tu te mueres con tus pesares dejame que te cante yo también.
(Now that you are dying with your sorrows, allow me also to sing to you.)
Borinquen de mi amor!
(Borinquen (of) my love!)
Yo soy hijo de Borinquen. (I am a son of Borinquen.)
Y eso nadie lo va a cambiar. (And that, no one will change.)
Y el dia que yo me muera, en ti quiero descansar. (And the day that I die, in you I wish to rest.)
Yo te adoro Puerto Rico! (I adore you Puerto Rico!)
Y eso nadie me lo va a quitar. (And that no one will take from me.)
*Researched Lyrics at MusicstarX.net
Lamento Borincano sang by: Marc Anthony.
Lamento Borincano sang by: Marc Anthony.
Researched Bio at Wikipedia; Rafael Hernandez.
Translator: Yours Truly :)
