El Trapero

Every morning, whether it was sunny or raining,
no matter the cold or the fog,
in every street, we’d hear him shout:
"Ladies, the ragman is here!"
Just like every morning, we’d see you arrive...
You had a sack on your back,
a burnt-out cigar, a torn suit,
a beret and espadrilles.
You were always followed by a bunch of kids.
You were quite the attraction.
You, your sack, and the song...
I’m the ragman, I buy bottles and paper,
I buy rags and dirty clothes,
umbrellas and old furniture...
I’m the ragman, the kids kept singing.
"You’re really starting to annoy me.
Didn’t your mom tell you I’m the boogeyman?"
And so it went until night,
from street to street,
and from tavern to tavern.
With your papers and your body full of wine,
you’ll head back home.
You return happy, because you bought it all:
fish, wine, and a candle.
And a little love that some old whore must’ve given you.
You never have time to think.
Time to sleep.
Blow out the candle.
And tomorrow, back to the world,
you, your sack, and the song...
I’m the ragman, I buy bottles and paper,
I buy rags and dirty clothes,
umbrellas and old furniture...
I’m the ragman, the kids keep singing.
"You’re really starting to annoy me.
Didn’t your mom tell you I’m the boogeyman?"