Río de los Pájaros [English translation]

The Uruguay isn't a river,

but a blue sky travelling,

painter of cloud ways,

with roan honey flavour.

The loves of the coast,

are loves without destiny,

camalotes of hope

that the river takes along.

Chuá, chuá, chuá, ja, ja, ja,

don't sing wood pigeon

that the ceibal 1cries blood.

Brown laundry woman,

little biguá2 of the coast,

roll your skirt,

start washing the clothes.

Your mother cooks charqui, 3

your father went upstream

and you were left alone

washing clothes in the shore.

Chuá, chuá, chuá, ja, ja, ja,

don't sing wood pigeon

that the ceibal cries blood.

Little fishin canoe,

hold the storm,

if my arms don't get weary

I'll take you off rowing.

Boy with spiky hair,

alligator little eyes,

whistling belly,

coffee coloured back.

Chuá, chuá, chuá, ja, ja, ja,

don't sing wood pigeon

that the ceibal cries blood.

1. A place planted with ceibos. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythrina_crista-galli2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neotropic_cormorant3. Dried salty meat