Taxco de Mis Amores

Question

Here's another classic song by Raful Krayem (1909-1939)

Taxco de Mis Amores
Taxco of My Loves

Yo soy de un pueblito, chiquito y bonito
I am a little town, small and pretty

que se llama Taxco el colonial,
that is called Taxco, the colonial,

con sus casas viejas, sus quebradas callejas,
with its old houses and crazy quilt alleyways

su hermosa iglesia que es el orgullo del mineral.
its beautiful church that is the pride of the mineral.

Cuando llega un viajero, pregunta a la entrada,
When a traveller arrives, asking at the entrance,

que como se llama donde va a llegar,
what is it called where he is going to arrive.

alguien le contesta: ¡Ese es Taxco el colonial!
Someone answers him: That is Taxco the colonial!

Taxco de mis amores,
Taxco of my loves,

jardincito de flores,
little garden of flowers,

donde he pasado los años
where I have passed the years

esperando a mis amores.
waiting for my loves.

Taxco de mis ensueños,
Taxco of my dreams,

jardincito de flores,
little garden of flowers,

donde he pasado la vida
where i have passed the life

viviendo de las ilusiones.
living of the illusions.

Cuando vayas por la carretera
When you go by the highway

veras muchas cosas que te han de agradar;
you will see many things that ought to please you

veras por las lomas correr las potrancas,
you will see by the hills the colts running

becerros y vacas dentro de un corral.
heifers and cows within a corral

Por eso te invito, chatita de la alma,
For this I invite you, sweet little soul,

que vayamos a pasear
that we are going to go around

para que vivas desengañada
so that you live undeceived

que soy un Taxqueño, y que vivo en el mineral.
that i am a Tasqueñan and that i live in the mineral.

Taxco de mis amores,
Taxco of my loves,

jardincito de flores,
little garden of flowers,

donde he pasado los años
where i have passed the years

esperando a mis amores.
waiting for my loves.

Taxco de mis ensueños,
Taxco of my dreams,

jardincito de flores,
little garden of flowers,

donde he pasado la vida
where i have passed the life

viviendo de las ilusiones.
living of the illusions.

Open to suggestions as to how to best translate "chatita de la alma"
...any other refinements and/or corrections. De antemano, gracias!

You can download and listen to this song:
http://artcamp.com.mx/musicofguerrero/'p=6

Raful Krayem

Raful Krayem

Nació 1909 Taxco de Alarcon, Guerero, México.

In su breve y brillante vida. Raful compusó
cientos de canciones encantadoras para su trio.

Las cristalinas composiciones de Raful Krayem
muestran una sensibilidad y education clasica.

A la vez sus canciones que siempre son bellas.

Ellas piden prestados de las trovas folkloricas
y especificamente a los del estado de Guerrero.

Born 1909 Taxco de Alarcon Guerrero Mexico

In his brief and brilliant life life he composed
a hundred enchanting songs for his trio.

The crystaline compositions of Raful Krayem demonstrate a sensibility
and classical education. His music is unfailingly beautiful, simple and natural,
inspired by Mexican folkloric verses, specifically those of the state of Guerrero

Answer 1

http://artcamp.com.mx/musicofguerrero/'page_id=151

Here is Moe's translation of the classic Raful Krayem song

and the anthem of our provincial city, "Taxco de Mis Amores".

Answer 2

Martin:

I thought I would like to try my hand at the English translation of this song. Through it all I tried to respect the rhythm, beat and melody of the music. I'm not sure I was always successful. When dealing with a song, it's impossible to write the words without paying attention to the music.

I changed the song's title, in English, because it felt more comfortable to me and more like what I think an English language folk song might be called.

I found the 1st line had been translated incorrectly. In Spanish, it is written as 'Yo soy de un pueblito'. That translates to English as 'I am from a small town'. On the web page

http://artcamp.com.mx/musicofguerrero/'p=6

it has been incorrectly translated as 'I am a little town'. I have corrected this. Also in the 1st line there is a little awkward repitition because "pueblito" means small town and, "chiquito" also means small. It is the same idea expressed twice. So to get rid of the repetition and still try to work with the music's rhythm and meter, I changed the 1st line.

I also found 'quebradas callejas? difficult to work with. I searched a couple of dictionaries and some pages on the web. I also found this picture of Taxco

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Taxco_1.JPG

and the photo helped me to get a better idea of the town the composers were writing about. Still, I had to fit in with the music. I have changed the 3rd line with all of this in mind.

An even more difficult translation is found in line 4 in the phrase 'vivo en el mineral'. In English, to live in the mineral is without meaning. It is 'drivel'. When I did a search in Spanish for 'mineral? I found 6 towns with 'mineral? in their name, for example, Mineral del Monte, Mineral de la Luz,and Mineral de Rayas. I also discovered that one meaning for 'mineral? is 'mine'. I'm reminded there are at least 3 places here in Canada with 'Mine? in their name. Consider, Thetford Mines, Mine Centre and Porcupine Mine. I had to conclude that one way to translate this line was to say that 'en el mineral? meant 'in town'. I changed the English used in line 4 again trying to work with the tempo and music of the song.

In your original posting, you made special reference to the word 'chatita'. After a lot of 'googling', I just accepted that 'Chatita? is a diminutive form of the word 'chata'. Chata seems to be an affectionate term for a woman so I'm guessing that chatita is an even more intimate term of endearment for a woman. I patterned that line to reflect that kind of thinking.

I have made several other smaller changes that I thought would work with the music and be more comfortable and understandable English. I thought some of the translations found at

http://artcamp.com.mx/musicofguerrero/'p=6

were too much word for word (literal translations) and not enough ordinary English style (figurative translation). Here is my attempt at a translation:

**'My Beloved Taxco.'

I'm from a pretty and attractive small town

It is called Taxco, the colonial

With its old houses and its winding and hilly streets

Its beautiful church is the pride of the whole town

When a traveller arrives and asks as he enters

What's the name of this town where I've just arrived?

Someone answers with pride 'This is Taxco, the colonial!?

CHORUS

Taxco my home town

Beautiful garden of flowers

Where I have lived my years

Expecting to find my lover

Taxco of my dreams

Beautiful garden of flowers

Where I have enjoyed my life

Living out my life's hopes

When you travel around on our roads

You'll see many things that please you.

In the hills, you'll see the colts frolic

In corrals, calves and cows are at rest

Here is what I invite you to do sweet darling

Come and see all around Taxco with me

So that you will always know

That I am a Tasquenian and I live in this town

REPEAT THE CHORUS**

Answer 3

Here's another classic song by Raful Krayem (1909-1939)

con sus casas viejas, sus quebradas callejas,

with its old houses and crazy quilt alleyways

**

why 'crazy''**

Cuando vayas por la carretera

When you go by the road

**

I wonder if in this context is better to use 'road'.**

que soy un Taxqueño, y que vivo en el mineral.

that I am a Tasqueñan and that i live in the mineral.

donde he pasado los años

where I have passed the years

donde he pasado la vida

where I have passed the life

con sus casas viejas, sus quebradas callejas,
with its old houses and it's crooked alleyways

Thank you!

Answer 4

You have to get to 101 and your at 95!

I'm at 183 this moment.

When you get to a 1000 posts you get your own thread!

Answer 5

Here's another classic song by Raful Krayem (1909-1939)

con sus casas viejas, sus quebradas callejas,

with its old houses and crazy quilt alleyways

**

why 'crazy''**

Cuando vayas por la carretera

When you go by the road

**

I wonder if in this context is better to use 'road'.**

que soy un Taxqueño, y que vivo en el mineral.

that I am a Tasqueñan and that i live in the mineral.

donde he pasado los años

where I have passed the years

donde he pasado la vida

where I have passed the life

Pablo your almost a senior member!

I see, great!

Answer 6

Here's another classic song by Raful Krayem (1909-1939)

con sus casas viejas, sus quebradas callejas,

with its old houses and crazy quilt alleyways

**

why 'crazy''**

Cuando vayas por la carretera

When you go by the road

**

I wonder if in this context is better to use 'road'.**

que soy un Taxqueño, y que vivo en el mineral.

that I am a Tasqueñan and that i live in the mineral.

donde he pasado los años

where I have passed the years

donde he pasado la vida

where I have passed the life

Pablo your almost a senior member!

Answer 7

Yes, I noticed thier names in the list on the thread that you gave me the link to.

Answer 8

Okay, Thanks, that gave me a idea of Spanish Artists/Songs

One thing worth mentioning is that a lot of Italian and Brazilian singers are very popular in Spanish Latin America (and Spain perhaps'). I often see Eros Ramazzotti, Laura Pausini, Roberto Carlos, among others, being mentioned as great "Spanish" singers.

Answer 9

Okay, Thanks, that gave me a idea of Spanish Artists/Songs

Answer 10

Yeah, that is the kind of music I'm talng about, who are some big names in the Spanish Pop Music culture?

There's a huge thread here about just that: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/show/194/

Answer 11

I have a question. Is there Spanish Singer like their is English, like Rock, country, pop, or rap?

Are you asking if there are "star" popular musicians in Mexico, who make a lot of money by selling records and performing live? The answer is: of course.

Pop music is a worldwide phenomenon. Those songs that Martin posts, however, are more correctly classified as folk music - music that comes from ordinary people who are not professional musicians.

Yeah, that is the kind of music I'm talng about, who are some big names in the Spanish Pop Music culture'

Answer 12

Here's another classic song by Raful Krayem (1909-1939)

con sus casas viejas, sus quebradas callejas,

with its old houses and crazy quilt alleyways

**

why 'crazy''**

Cuando vayas por la carretera

When you go by the road

**

I wonder if in this context is better to use 'road'.**

que soy un Taxqueño, y que vivo en el mineral.

that I am a Tasqueñan and that i live in the mineral.

donde he pasado los años

where I have passed the years

donde he pasado la vida

where I have passed the life

Answer 13

Here's another classic song by Raful Krayem (1909-1939)

Cuando llega un viajero y pregunta en la entrada,

When a traveller arrives, asking at the entrance,

que cómo se llama donde va a llegar,

what is it called where he is going to arrive.

donde he pasado la vida

where I have passed the life

verás muchas cosas que te han de agradar;

you will see many things that ought to please you

Por eso te invito, chatita del alma,

For this I invite you, sweet little soul,

Answer 14

I have a question. Is there Spanish Singer like their is English, like Rock, country, pop, or rap?

Are you asking if there are "star" popular musicians in Mexico, who make a lot of money by selling records and performing live? The answer is: of course.

Pop music is a worldwide phenomenon. Those songs that Martin posts, however, are more correctly classified as folk music - music that comes from ordinary people who are not professional musicians.

Answer 15

sorry, i do not watch TV, nor am i familiar with mass-media music

'Cuerdas de Taxco? (Chords of Taxco) es un trio en el estilo clasico
de composicion folclorica. Los musicos son amigos viejos, nuestros vecinos,
quienes se conocen y han tocado musica juntos por mas de 50 años.

Ellos tocan sus propias composiciones y tambien tocan musica
del famoso Raful Krayem's (1909-1939) 'Taxco de Mis Amores',
'El Jumilero', Muñequita Mia', Camioncito Flecha Roja',
y 'Adios Mi Juventud', Te Vi Jugeutear (Con Las Olas Del Mar), etc.

Estas son composiciones exquisitas con mucha poesia combinadas
con ritmo y melodia. Esta musica esta hecha con dos guitarras, dos voces,
? en algunas canciones, un violin y en algunas otras una trompeta.

'Cuerdas de Taxco? (Chords of Taxco) is a local musical trio
in the classical style of folk composition. The musicians are a our old friends,
our neighbors, who have known each other and have been playing music together
for more than 50 years, performing their own compositions and also famous works
of Taxco's own Raful Krayem (1909-1939)
'Taxco de Mis Amores', 'El Jumilero',
Muñequita Mia', Camioncito Flecha Roja',
and 'Adios Mi Juventud', 'Corazon Cobarde?
'Te Vi Juguetear (Con Las Olas del Mar)', El Que Carga El Moral, entre otros.

(Taxco of My Loves), (The Jumil Bug) (My Little Doll), (Little Red Autobus),
Goodbye My Youth), (I Saw You Playing With the Waves of the Sea), etc.

These are exquisite compositions with apt ironic poetry
combined with perfected rythmic and melodic arrangements.

This lovely music features two guitars, two voices,
'in some songs, a violin, in some songs, a trumpet.