Lamento borincano [English translation]

He goes crazy with happiness

With his cargo

To the city, yes,

To the city.

He carries, in his thoughts

A whole world

of happiness, yes,

Of happiness.

He intends to remedy the situation

Of the home that is all his illusion.

And cheerful, the jibarito* goes

singing like this,

Saying like this,

Laughing like this, along the way:

"If I sell the cargo,

my dear God,

A dress for my mother

I'll buy"

And cheerful, his mule goes as well

When it feels that that singing

It's all a hymn of joy.

In that moment they are surprised

By the daylight,

And they arrive at the city market.

The whole morning passes

Without anyone wanting

To buy his cargo, ay,

To buy his cargo.

Everything, everything is deserted

The village is dead

Of necessity, yes,

Of necessity.

Lamentations are heard everywhere,

From the unfortunated Borinquen*, yes.

And sad the jibarito goes

singing like this,

Crying like this,

Saying like this, along the way:

"What will be of Borinquen,

My dear God.

What will be of my children

And my home".

Borinquen, the land of Eden

Which when the great Gautier* sang

He called "the pearl of the seas",

Now that you die

With your sorrow,

Let me sing you

Me too.