El Velador

I'm the night watchman
neighbor to those who sleep
always around them
though they can't see me.

But they'll hear me whistle
out there in the distance
and my whistle brings
sad melancholy.

I grew up in a mine
never seeing the sunlight
in darkness confined
I became the night watchman.

I'm the night watchman
Marcial Valentín Machorro
they call me the Lion
'cause I never run away.

How could I escape
when my courage commands me
to chase down the thief
and even a ghost in pain.

Son of an owl
grandson of a horned owl I am
no wonder I wake up
wherever I may be.

It must be three
a dog barks furiously
with your permission, man
I'm off to the next block.