Paroles et traduction Victor Jara - El Niño Yuntero

El Niño Yuntero

Carne de yugo ha nacido
Más humillado que bello
Con el cuello perseguido
Por el yugo para el cuello.
Empieza a vivir y empieza
A morir de punta a punta
Levantando la corteza
De su madre con la yunta.
Contar sus años no sabe
Y ya sabe que el sudor
Es una corona grave
De sal para el labrador.
Me duele este niño hambriento
Como una grandiosa espina
Y su vivir ceniciento
Revuelve mi alma de encina.
Contar sus años no sabe
Y ya sabe que el sudor
Es una corona grave
De sal para el labrador.
Quién salvará a este chiquillo
Menor que un grano de avena,
De dónde saldrá el martillo
Verdugo de esta cadena.
Que salga del corazón
De los hombres jornaleros
Que antes de ser hombres son
Y han sido niños yunteros.

The Young Ox-Driver

Born to the life of an ox
More humbled than handsome
With his neck marked by persecution
By the yoke meant for his neck.
He begins to live and begins
To die piece by piece
Tearing the flesh
Of his mother with the yoke.
He does not know how to count his years
And he already knows that sweat
Is a heavy crown
Of salt for the farmer.
This hungry boy pains me
Like a deep-set thorn
And his ashen life
Rouses my oak-like soul.
He does not know how to count his years
And he already knows that sweat
Is a heavy crown
Of salt for the farmer.
Who will save this boy
Smaller than a grain of oats,
From whence will come the hammer
To shatter these chains?
Let it come from the heart
Of the working men
Who are more than men
And were once young ox-drivers.