Lyrics and translation Victor Heredia - Mandarinas (with Silvio Rodríguez)

Mandarinas (with Silvio Rodríguez)

Recuerdo cuando niño robaba mandarinas
Redondeces de oro, que una dulce vecina
Cuidaba de mis garras, mis garras asesinas
Como quien cuida el tiempo, que no arruine la vida.

Yo esquivaba en la siesta la leve ligustrina
Sobornando a su perro con sobres de cocina
Y entraba al terrenito de Doña Catalina
Que dormía su sueño tras pesadas cortinas.

Alzaba mi tesoro y escalaba la encina
Después, con un silbido le avisaba a Cristina
Y comíamos juntos y ella a veces reía
Con risa transparente y fulgor de aguamarina
Silbo de vez en cuando para ver que sucede
Aunque hace tantos años que talaron encima
Y aunque no me lo crean a veces siento risas
Y un perfume en el aire
Como de mandarinas.

Tangerines (with Silvio Rodríguez)

I remember when I was a child, I used to steal tangerines.
Golden orbs, which a dear neighbour
Guarded from my claws, my deadly claws.
As one who watches over time, that it does not ruin life.

During siesta, I avoided the delicate privet
Bribing her dog with kitchen envelopes
And I would enter the small plot of land of Doña Catalina
Who slept her sleep behind heavy curtains.

I would raise my treasure and climb the holm oak
Then, with a whistle, I would call out to Cristina
And we would eat together, and she would sometimes laugh
With laughter transparent and bright as aquamarine.
From time to time, I whistle to see what happens
Although it has been so many years since they felled the tree
And although they may not believe me, sometimes I hear laughter
And a perfume in the air
Like that of tangerines.