José Leonardo

José Leonardo was
sweat of black and cocoa
when he stirred the molasses
to drive away the Spaniard
who later became a gringo
and here we have him today

José Leonardo was
sweat of black and cocoa
when he stirred the molasses
to drive away the Spaniard
who later became a gringo
and here we have him today

because the leather, my friend
depends on how it's used
if it's tough in the hands of the master
who makes the black man cry

and if the drum is made of leather
it's another thing, my friend
the drum's rattle
calls to Mandinga
and the god the master prays to

José Leonardo was
sweat of black and cocoa
when he stirred the molasses
to drive away the Spaniard
who later became a gringo
and here we have him today

Spirit of San Benito
free me from the snake
that the Mantuan freed me from myself
if the snake is the same
who is the Mantuan today?

I come from eating Urupagua
dying of thirst
with the kisses of my black woman
I'm relieved and eat again

pilon hand
toasted coffee
my black woman in the evening
still smells like cocoa

Spirit of San Benito
free me from the snake
that the Mantuan freed me from myself
if the snake is the same
who is the Mantuan today?

sleeping is less suffering
says the witch Estanislao
but mommy, dawn comes
and the suffering hasn't passed

Spirit of San Benito
free me from the snake
that the Mantuan freed me from myself
if the snake is the same
who is the Mantuan today?

toasted coffee
pilon hand
my black woman in the evening
still smells like cocoa

I come from eating Urupagua
dying of thirst
with the kisses of my black woman
I'm relieved and eat again

Spirit of San Benito
free me from the snake
that the Mantuan freed me from myself
if the snake is the same
who is the Mantuan today?

that stubborn black man
that black man doesn't want a master
with that black man there's no fooling around
because his arms are his law
with that black man there's no fooling around

José Leonardo was
sweat of black and cocoa
when he stirred the molasses
to drive away the Spaniard
who later became a gringo
and even messed with the Spaniard

(spoken)
"And the blacks squatting down
rolling the cane
making their voices low
to hear the mulatto
and on guacharaca legs
the war cry echoed
in the Curimagua mountains
not only mango with threadbare skin was given
José Leonardo was
sweat of black and cocoa
when he stirred the molasses
to drive away the Spaniard
who later became a gringo
and even messed with the Spaniard