Coplas al Compadre Juan Miguel [English translation]

To the fellow Juan Miguel,

they don't pay his wage

and though there's nothing to eat,

he has to work anyway.

Poor fellow Miguel,

the life he had.

He spent all day long

working without protesting

for some drinks of caña1

the poor fellow Juan.

Poor fellow Miguel,

the life he had.

As a hairy cave,

Miguel's aripuca; 2

what a bad destiny he has

nobody remembers him.

Poor fellow Miguel,

the life he had.

The lord and the comisary

always talk about the law,

that one must respect the other's property

even if there's nothing to eat.

Poor fellow Miguel,

the life he had.

Juan Miguel gave up

and lives among the rice,

while there's mate and caña

one must thank to god.

Poor fellow Miguel,

the life he had.

But one day will come

when this will be over,

and the luck of the fellow

will change for good,

when the rice field workers

sing this song!

1. Alcoholic drink made with sugarcane2. A traditional guaraní trap to hunt small animals