Hispanic Folk Music of New Mexico and the Southwest: A Self-Portrait of a People

Section I: Occupations

I. OCCUPATIONS Unlike the foregoing song texts, which have been classified on the basis of their form, the songs included in this section are grouped together here primarily because of their subject matter. The occupations represented include shepherd, soldier, railroader, cowboy, sailor, wagoner, coal miner, shoemaker, farmer, laborer, and miller. SHEPHERD II. La Indita de Ricardo (The Ballad of Ricardo) R218, Celestino Segura, age 66, Canjilon, N.Mex., 1949, Robb. 1 Voy a cantar esta indita, senores, pongan cuidado, de los pastores de Fulton, de lo que les ha pasado: que el ano noventa y nueve le acabaron el ganado. 1 I'm going to sing this indita, Gentlemen, pay attention, About the shepherds of Fulton, About what befell them: About how in 1899 They lost their flock. 2 Y esto no fue por descuido les notare en esta indita; el ensillo su burrito; fue a buscar su venadita. 2 And this was not for lack of care As I will make plain in this song; He saddled his donkey; Went looking for his doe. 489 Bis Bis Bis Herding sheep between Taos and Mora, New Mexico, about 1949. ] ] ] ] ] ] SECULAR SONG TEXTS AND MELODIES 3 Le dice don Harry Fulton, cuando acaba de contar, —Ricardo, Icuando has perdido? dame la suma total.— Le dice que mil quienientas, Fulton se quiso desmayar! 4 Ya les pega a los caballos para seguro mas rico. Pero que no se te olviden trescientas que te dio tu hijo. 5 Le dice don Harry Fulton que Ricardo es el que manda; y a reportar una corta de trescientas que ya le anda. 6 Le dice don Harry Fulton: — Ricardo, pues bien, refleja, cuatro anos me has trabajado no has perdido ni una oveja, ahora traes setecientas por irte a ver a tu vieja.— La gente del Canon Diablo ya le tiene por refran; y el burrito de don Ricardo murio aventado de pan. 8 Tambien don Leandro Lucero le presento a Dios sus quejas; y el dfa del revillion salio bien con las ovejas, nada mas que a su burrito se le helaron las orejas. 9 De que esta cantada pase de Cubero para Corrales, toda la gente dira: — Van cambiando mis pesares.— Y los pastores de Fulton ya hacen corvas regulares. 10 Conozcan a don Ricardo, ya es un hombre anciano y viejo, 3 Don Harry Fulton says to him, When he finished counting, "Ricardo, how many have you lost? Give me the total count." He answered, "One thousand five hundred/' And Fulton nearly fainted. 4 Now he whips the horses, Here he vents his rage. But do not forget the three hundred Your son gave you. 5 Don Harry Fulton says to him That Ricardo is the boss; And now he must report a loss Of three hundred who have strayed. 6 Now says Don Harry Fulton: "Ricardo, look here, see here, In four years of service You never lost one sheep, Now you've lost seven hundred By going to see your old woman." 7 The people of Canyon Diablo Now gossip freely; And Don Ricardo's donkey Died of overeating bread. 8 Don Leandro Lucero also Presented his complaints to God; On that stormy day He never lost one sheep, Only his donkey Froze his ears. 9 When this song goes From Cubero to Corrales, All the people will say: "My troubles are taking a turn for the better." And Fulton's shepherds Come in for plenty ofcriticism. 10 Know Don Ricardo, He is an ancient and an old man, 490 Bis Bis Bis Bis Bis Bis Bis Bis Bis Bis Bis ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] 7 OCCUPATIONS no echo menos la cachucha hasta que no se vio en el espejo. 11 Tengo que tomar la pluma y el papel con el tintero, para notar esta indita, que lo sepa el mundo entero que don Ricardo ha perdido la cachucha y el sombrero. 12 Si quieren saber, sefiores, quien compuso esta cantada el que perdio el sombrero, la cachucha, y la venada. He did not miss his cap Until he looked in the mirror. 11 I must take up the pen Also paper andink, In order to write this indita, That the world may know That Don Ricardo has lost His cap andhat. 12 Gentlemen, if you want to know Who composed this song, It was he who lost hishat, His cap,and his deer. This song was sung for me at a...