Spanish lyrics
Cuando Yo la Vide
Cantan: Carlos Mejía Godoy y los de Palacagüina
Cuando yo la vide
fue por la bajada de Gaspar Ventura
venía del río
con su tinajita fresca en la «centura»
todo tembeleque
vi de refilón su linda pantorrilla
quedé «cecereque»
con el «movimento» de su rabadilla.
Cuando yo la vide
¡Dios mío qué embrollo!
sentía el pellejo como carne-pollo
al tenerla cerca
me puse «zurumbo»
palabra de honor se me fueron los pulsos.
Sus dos ojos bellos
más que dos chispazos eran dos hogueras
tiraban destellos
como los «rilámpagos» de Chinandega
sólo al «devisarlos»
se me atravesó una cosa en el gaznate
porque eran brillantes
como la negrita pluma del zanate.
Cuando yo la vide . . . .
Venía cantando
no sé qué tonada cuando yo la vide
pero al «contimplarla»
hasta la saliva se me puso «chirre»
yo quise decirle:
te llevo morena a los santos altares
pero fue imposible
pues me «charchaleaban» todos los ijares.
Cuando yo la vide . . . .
English translation
The Time When I Seen Her
Cuando yo la vide
English translation by Patricia V. Lunn
The time when I seen her
Down the way from Gaspar Ventura's
She was coming from the river
With a jug of water at her waist
I was all atremble
Because I saw a little leg
I was all shook up
'Cuz of the way her bottom moved
The time when I seen her
Lordy, Lordy, what confusion!
It seemed like I was goosebumps all over
Just to have her near me
Set my head a-spinning
I swear that my heart it was pounding like mad
Her eyes were so lovely
More than sparks, they were like fires
They were even flashing
Like thunder bolts from Chinandega
As soon as I saw them
Down in my throat I felt a lump was forming
Because they were as shiny
As a dark feather from a blackbird
The time when I seen her...
She sang as she walked
Some song or other when I seen her
But while gazing at her
Even my spit started feeling just like water
I wanted to tell her:
I'll take you, dear, before the altar
But I couldn't do it
'Cuz I was shaking like a leaf
The time when I seen her...