Duerme Negrito – Lyrics Meaning in English – Atahualpa Yupanqui
“Duerme Negrito” (Sleep little black one) sung by Atahualpa Yupanqui, is a poignant lullaby that reflects the hardships and love within a mother-child relationship. Originating from Latin American folklore, this song tenderly portrays a mother comforting her child to sleep while she toils in the fields. The lyrics vividly describe the mother’s sacrifices and concerns for her child’s well-being, promising to bring quails, fruit, and meat. Yet, there’s an underlying fear—the white devil who threatens harm if the child doesn’t sleep. The song’s repetitive verses and rhythmic structure evoke a soothing yet melancholic atmosphere, encapsulating themes of labor, hardship, and maternal love. “Duerme Negrito” remains a powerful representation of cultural identity and the resilience of the human spirit.
Singer: Atahualpa Yupanqui
Duerme, duerme, negrito
Que tu mamá está en el campo, negrito
Sleep, sleep, little black one
Your mama is in the field, little black one
Duerme, duerme, negrito
Que tu mamá está en el campo, negrito
Sleep, sleep, little black one
Your mama is in the field, little black one
Te va a traer codornices para ti
Te va a traer rica fruta para ti
Te va a traer carne de cerdo para ti
Te va a traer muchas cosas para ti
She will bring you quails
She will bring you tasty fruit
She will bring you pork meat
She will bring you many things
Y si el negro no se duerme
Viene el diablo blanco
Y ¡zas!, le come la patita
Chacapumba, chacapum
Apumba, chacapumba, chacapumba, chacapum
And if the little black one doesn’t sleep
The white devil comes
And bam! He eats his little leg
Chacapumba, chacapum
Apumba, chacapumba, chacapumba, chacapum
Duerme, duerme, negrito
Que tu mamá está en el campo, negrito
Trabajando duramente
Trabajando sí
Trabajando y va de luto
Trabajando sí
Trabajando y va tosiendo
Trabajando, sí
Trabajando y no le pagan
Trabajando sí
Sleep, sleep, little black one
Your mama is in the fields, little black one
Working hard
Working, yes
Working, dressed in mourning
Working, yes
Working, coughing
Working, yes
Working, and they don’t pay her
Working, yes
Pa el negrito chiquitito
Trabajando, sí
Pa el negrito chiquitito
Trabajando, sí
For the little black child
Working, yes
For the little black child
Working, yes
Duerme, duerme, negrito
Que tu mama está en el campo, negrito
Negrito, negrito
Sleep, sleep, little black one
Your mama is in the fields, little black one
Little black one, little black one
