A song bird in the alberque

Estaba Catalina

This is a folk song telling the story of Catalina who didn’t recognize her husband who was back from a war.

La Catalina lyrics

Estaba la Catalina
sentada bajo un laurel
sintiendo la frescura
de las aguas al caer

De pronto pasó un soldado
y lo hizo detener:
"Deténgase mi soldado
Que una pregunta le voy a hacer"

"Usted no ha visto a mi marido
en la guerra alguna vez?"
"Yo no he visto a su marido
ni tampoco sé quien es"

"Mi marido es alto y rubio
y buenmozo como used
y en la punta de la espada
lleva escrito San Andrés"

Por los datos que me ha dado
su marido muerto es
y me ha dejado dicho
que me case con usted.

Eso sí que no lo hago,
eso sí yo no lo haré:
siete años he esperado
y otros siete esperaré

Si a los catorce no vuelve
a un convento yo me iré
y a mis dos hijas mujeres
conmigo las llevaré
y a mis dos hijos varones
a la patria entregaré

Calla, calla, Catalina
Calla, calla de una vez
Que estás hablando con tu marido
que no has podido reconocer...

Translated

There was the Catalina
sitting under a laurel
feeling the freshness
of the falling waters
 
Suddenly a soldier passed by.
And it made him stop:
"Stop my soldier
What a question I'm going to ask him"
 
"You haven't seen my husband
in war ever?"
"I haven't seen her husband.
nor do I know who he is”.

"My husband is tall and blond
and good like you
and at the tip of the sword
St. Andrew is written"
 
For information you have given me your husband is dead
and this has left me sad
Let me marry you.

Now I don't,
But I won't:
Seven years I have waited
and another seven I will wait
 
If at fourteen he does not return
to a convent I will go
and my two daughters
with me I will take them
and my two sons
To the homeland I will deliver them.

Hush, hush Catalina
Hush, hush at once and for all
That you're talking to your husband
that you have not been able to recognize...
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