Paroles et traduction Cholo Valderrama - Josefina, Josefina

Josefina, Josefina

Josefina, Josefina, linda mujer de mi pueblo
No se si era la mas bella, pero es de la que me acuerdo,
Vivía en la cota de un monte, a orilla de un madre viejo,
Allá donde el llano es llano, y el horizonte lindero.
Me parece verla primo, con su cabellera al viento,
Vesti′a de falda flori'a, y blusa de terciopelo,
Por donde se desbordaban, los gorgones de sus senos
Y un colorcito melao, asi entre negro y moreno.
Josefina, Josefina, fue pa′ un primero de enero,
Que valseamos un pasaje en un baile sabanero,
La luna 'tava clarita coquetiando allá en el cielo
Y sobre el patio barri'o los dos bailando sereno.
Dicen que los años borran para siempre los recuerdos,
Pero el tuyo entre los mios siempre va de cabrestero
Y si te vuelvo a encontrar, te invito a bailar de nuevo,
Y te canto unas canciones criollas de mi cancionero.
Josefina, Josefina ayer me dijo un veguero,
Que tu fundo ta′ bonito pa′ allá para el madre viejo,
Que tiene monte y sabana, banco bajo y lambedero,
La casa es de palma real, y en el patio un tinajero,
Que a las cuatro e' la mañana te sales del mosquitero,
Y en el fogón de tres topias cuelas un café cerrero
Que ayudas en el corral, a las labores de ordeño,
Y de tarde Josefina amamantas los becerros.
Josefina, Josefina, bella mujer de mi pueblo,
Llanera de pies descalzos y descalon veranero
Comentan de boca en boca en los bailes sabaneros,
Que eres la mejor pareja para un joropo altanero,
Que tus hijos tumban toros y son baquianos pa′l verso
Y tu hija Josefina guarda tu clase y talento,
Que conserva las costumbres criollas de tus correderos,
Y de ñapa Josefina ta's casa′ con un llanero.

Josefina, Josefina

Josefina, Josefina, my lovely village maiden,
I don't know if you were the most beautiful, but you're the one I remember,
You lived on a hilltop, by the old river,
Where the plains are flat and the horizon seems endless.
I can almost see you now, cousin, with your hair blowing in the wind,
You were wearing a flowery skirt, and a velvet blouse,
Your breasts overflowing, your skin a beautiful shade of brown,
A mix of black and light brown.
Josefina, Josefina, it was on New Year's Day,
That we danced a waltz at a country dance,
The moon was shining brightly, flirting in the sky,
And we danced serenely in the open yard.
They say that time erases memories,
But yours is always with me, leading the way,
And if I ever see you again, I'll ask you to dance again,
And I'll sing you some of my traditional songs.
Josefina, Josefina, a farmer told me yesterday,
That your ranch is beautiful, out by the old river,
That it has forests and plains, low banks and watering holes,
The house is made of royal palm, and there's a water jar in the yard,
That at four in the morning you crawl out of your mosquito net,
And brew a strong coffee on the three-stone stove.
That you help out in the corral, with the milking,
And in the afternoon, Josefina, you nurse the calves.
Josefina, Josefina, my lovely village maiden,
A plainswoman with bare feet and a summery gait,
They say at the country dances,
That you're the best partner for a high-spirited joropo,
That your sons wrestle bulls and are skilled poets,
And your daughter Josefina has your class and talent,
That she preserves the traditional customs of your culture,
And that on top of that, Josefina, you're married to a plainsman.