Three Songs to Spanish Texts

Translations © by Dr Malinda Haslett

Song Cycle by Elsa Olivieri Sangiacomo Respighi (1894 - 1996)

View original-language texts alone: 3 Canzoni su testi spagnoli

1. La muerte del payador
 (Sung text)
Language: Spanish (Español) 
 ... 

“Adiós, luz del alma mía,
adiós, flor de mis llanuras,
manantial de las dulzuras
que mi espíritu bebía;
Adiós, mi única alegría,
dulce afán de mi existir;
Santos Vega se va a hundir
en lo immenso de esos llanos...
¡Lo han vencido! ¡Llegó hermanos,
el momento de morir!”

 ... 

Ni aún cenizas en el suelo
de Santos Vega quedaron,
y los años dispersaron
los testigos de aquel duelo.
Pero un viejo y noble abuelo,
así el cuento terminó:
“Y si cantando murió
aquel que vivió cantando,
fue, decía suspirando,
porque el diablo lo venció».

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Note: Santos Vega: a mythically invincible, singing gaucho. Origin: Argentina. The popular legend describes how he was defeated only by the devil, disguised as Juan sin Ropa.

by Rafael Obligado (1851 - 1920)
1. The Death of the Gaucho
Language: English 
[ ... ]

“Goodbye, light of my soul,
Goodbye, flower from my garden,
spring of sweetness,
from which my spirit drank:
Goodbye, my only happiness,
Sweet desire of my existence;
Saint Vega is to be buried
In those immense plains...
He is defeated! It has arrived, Brothers,
the moment of death!

[ ... ]

Not even the ashes of Saint Vega
remain on the ground,
and the years have dispersed
as have the witnesses of the duel.
But an old and sage man,
finished the story thusly:
“And if he died singing,
he who lived singing,
it was,” he said sighing,
“because the devil was the victor.”

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Spanish (Español) to English copyright © 2025 by Dr Malinda Haslett, (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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This text was added to the website: 2025-09-11
Line count: 180
Word count: 102

Translation © by Dr Malinda Haslett
2. Momento
 (Sung text)
Language: Spanish (Español) 
Amor pasò por mi puerta
en forma de peregrino;
los pies llevaba descalzos,
de harapos iba vestido.

Amor se parò en mi puerta
y suspirando, me dijo:

Dame un poco de calor
que vengo muerto de frío.
Calor que mi hogár produce
para mí lo necesito.
Dame de yantar si tienes
que ha tiempo que no he comido.

El pan que en mi casa guardo,
no parto con los mendigos.

Ciego soy,
si de otra puerta,
me mostrarás el camino.

Enhoramala se marche,
que yo no soy lazarillo!

Amor me volvió la espalda
lanzando al aire un suspiro.
Amor estaba muy lejos
al sér de mi conocido.

Ven, que hay calor en mi hogar,
ven a yantar peregrino!
Con Dios quede el impiadoso,
que ya nada necesito!
Vuelve otra vez a mi puerta!
No prosigas tu camino.

El riendose, à los lejos,
estas palabras me dijo:

El Amor no pasa dos veces
por un mismo sitio!

Amor pasò por mi puerta...

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada and the U.S., but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Note for stanza 6, line 2: refers to Lazarillo de Tormes


by Joaquín Dicenta Alonso (1893 - 1967)
2. Moment
Language: English 
Love passed by my door
dressed as a traveler;
he was barefoot,
and dressed in rags.

Love appeared in my doorway
and whispering, said to me:

Give me a bit of warmth
for I am dying of cold.
Warmth that is made at home
is what I need.
Give me something to eat
for I have not eaten in some time.

The bread that I have in my house,
I do not share with beggars.

I am blind,
if you have another door,
show me the way.

Be off with you,
for I am no guide dog!

Love turned away from me
releasing a long sigh.
Love was far away
before I recognized him.

Come, my home is warm.
Come and eat, wanderer!
God has been merciless,
I need nothing more!
Come again to my door!
Do not leave on your journey.

And laughing, from afar,
these words he said:

Love does not pass
the same way twice!

Love passed by my door...

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Spanish (Español) to English copyright © by Dr Malinda Haslett, (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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This text was added to the website: 2025-09-11
Line count: 34
Word count: 163

Translation © by Dr Malinda Haslett
3. Duermete mi alma
 (Sung text)
Language: Multiple Languages 
Duérmete mi alma.
Duérmete mi vida,
que tu padre el malo.
Se fuè con la blanca niña
Y nuevo amor.

Yo me fuè tras él
por ver donde iba,
Y lo vi entrar
en donde la blanca niña.
Y nuevo amor.

Duérmete mi alma!
Duérmete mi vida,
que tu padre viene
de onde la linda amiga 
Y nuevo amor.

Yo me fuè atras
por ver lo que aria...
volvime a mi casa
triste y desbalida...
y nuevo amor.

Duérmete, mi alma.

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from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , as Traditional
3. Sleep, my beloved.
Language: English 
Sleep, my beloved.
Sleep, my darling,
your father has gone.
He is with the white child,
his new love.

I followed him
to see where he went,
And I saw him enter
where the white child lives.
His new love.

Sleep, my beloved.
Sleep my darling,
your father will return
from his beautiful lover 
and new child.

I went back,
to see what would happen...
But then I returned home
sad and helpless...
his new love.

Sleep, my darling.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Multiple Languages to English copyright © 2025 by Dr Malinda Haslett, (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.
    Contact: 

Based on:

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This text was added to the website: 2025-09-10
Line count: 21
Word count: 79

Translation © by Dr Malinda Haslett