March 26, 2006
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“Las Mañanitas”
I have mentioned the Mexican birthday song “Las Mañanitas” on here many times, and several folks have asked about it, so I decided to post some info on it. American author James Michener, in his novel Centenniel, referred to “Las Mañanitas” as the most beautiful birthday song in the world. Like most folk songs, it exists in numerous versions, but I will draw your attention to a couple of them.
The first is taken from http://www.lucerito.net/mananitas.htm. [This sample starts, by the way, in the poetic translation, at "How beautiful is the morning..."]
LAS MAÑANITAS
Recorded by Stanley A. Lucero as a combination of Mañanitas Tapatias and Mañanitas Mexicanas
At birthday parties, anniversaries, and serenatas we hear one of the many versions of Las Mañanitas being sung by trios, mariachis, bands, and loved ones. There are more verses to this song than any other song I know. Even though I’ve sung this song at least a thousand times, the look in the eyes of the people to whom the song is dedicated makes it feel like a new song.
LYRICS TO LAS MANANITAS: Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el Rey David; hoy por ser dia de tu santo te las cantamos a ti; Despierta mi bien despierta mira que ya amanecio
The Mañanitas (poetic translation)
These are the lovely mañanitas that were sung by Rey David. Today we sing them to a loved one who happy will be. Wake up this early morning and the sun you will see. As the moon leaves us this morning all the birds they will sing. How beautiful is the morning that I come to share with you. We all come in celebration of this special day just for you. The day it is a dawning and the light of day has come. Awaken early this morning to see all that we have done.
The Little Mornings (Literal translation)
These are the little mornings that sang the King David, today for being day of your saint we sing them to you. Wake up my love wake up look that sunrise has come, already the litttle birds sing; the moon already has set. How pretty is the morning that I come on to greet you. We come all with gladness and pleasure to congratulate you. Already comes the sunrise; already the light of day has touched us. Get up of morning, look that sunrise has come.
NOTES: I learned various versions of Las Mañanitas in New Mexico (Taos, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Encino, San Cristobal, Penasco, Holman, Encino, Chihuahita, etc) starting in 1961, S.Lucero. I was told the song came from México. In my recording of Las Mañanitas (1974), I combined verses from the Mañanitas Mexicanas and Mañanitas Tapatias
Hoy por ser día de tu santo te las cantamos aquí.
Despierta mi bien despierta
Mira que ya amaneció
Ya los pajaritos cantan
La luna ya se metió.
¡Qué linda está la mañana hoy que vengo a saludarte
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte!
El día en que tú naciste, nacieron todas las flores
En la pila del bautizmo cantaron los ruiseñores.
Ya viene amaneciendo ya la luz que ya Dios dió.
Levantarse de la mañana, mira que ya amaneció.
De las estrellas del cielo tengo que bajarte dos,
Una para saludarte, otra para decirte adiós.
Volaron cuatro palomas por toditas las ciudades
hoy por ser día de tu santo te deseamos felicidades.
Con rácimos de flores hoy te vengo a saludar.
Y hoy por ser día de tu santo te venimos a cantar.
