by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
El majo celoso
Language: Spanish (Español)
Available translation(s): ENG
Del majo que me enamora
He aprendido la queja
Que una y mil veces suspira
Noche tras noche en mi reja:
Lindezas, me muero
De amor loco y fiero
Y quisiera olvidarte
Mas quiero y no puedo!
Le han dicho que en la Pradera
Me han visto con un chispero
Desos de malla de seda
Y chupa de terciopelo.
Majezas, te quiero,
No creas que muero
De amores perdida
Por ese chispero.
Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "The jealous majo", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Ross Klatte
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 72
The jealous majo
Language: English  after the Spanish (Español)
From the majo who I’m falling for,
I’ve learned this complaint.
He sighs endlessly
Night after night at my fence:
“My beauty, I’m dying
Of rash and painful love
And I’d like to forget you since
I want more, and I can’t have it!”
Someone has told him that on the Pradera
I’ve been seen hanging around with a cad
Wearing silk stockings
And a velvet coat.
Babe, I love you,
Don’t believe that I’m dying
Because of an old love affair
With that peasant.
Translator's notes
Title: The word "majo" (masculine) / "maja" (feminine) described men and women from the lower classes of the pueblo llano section of Madrid (esp. the slums of Lavapies and Maravillas); they became a favorite subject of painters (Goya) and playwrights (Raymond de la Cruz) from 1760-1800. Majos wore exaggerated Spanish costumes (pigtail, hairnet, chupétin or “lollipop” vest, knee breeches or stockings, a broad sash, pointed hat, and a sleeveless cape called the “capote de mangas”). This colorful dress evolved from that appropriate to the popular Santiago del Verde festival on May 1 (attendees were called mayos). Majos and majas were known for outgoing, quarrelsome behavior, supported the arts and militia, and performed as guitarists and dancers.
Line 3: "endlessly" - literally, “from one to a thousand times”.
Line 5: "My beauty" - lindezas is a noun meaning pretty things, or when used ironically, insults (lindeza means prettiness).
Line 9: The San Isidro Park, situated along the Manzanares River in central Madrid, was painted by Goya in 1788 (The Meadow of San Isidro). The park is commonly known as the Pradera de San Isidro.
Line 10: "cad" - chispero refers to a low-class inhabitant of Madrid; a girl calling someone a “chispero” in this context is roughly like using the insulting term “lowlife”, “loser”, or “dude”.
Line 13: "babe" - majezas is a noun meaning attractiveness (majeza means good looks).
Authorship:
- Translation from Spanish (Español) to English copyright © 2020 by Laura Prichard, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2020-01-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 85