De Chicos Tamborileros

Old Mama's Parasol
Gramilleros' sticks
Vests and espadrilles
Of drumming boys

The Mondongo neighborhood
The Tambor neighborhood
Were neighborhoods of Candombe
Candombe borocotó

Slaves' drums dance
Dark bodies vibrate
They advance with short steps
Looking at the sky

Old Mama's Parasol
Gramilleros' sticks
Vests and espadrilles
Of drumming boys

Borocotó borocotó
Borocotó chas chás

In the San Telmo neighborhood
In the Montserrat neighborhood
They remember what they didn't see
What's behind the sea

The parade no longer passes by
Nor do they hear its chains
The thunder-drums don't sound
On the sidewalks

Old Mama's Parasol
Gramilleros' sticks
Vests and espadrilles
Of drumming boys