La Llamada

Here comes the call keeping the beat,
listen to the drums, they sound so sweet.
They fill my body with their smooth rhythm,
and their sway brings joy to my heart within.
People get wild when they hear its sound.
The neighborhood goes crazy, dancing all around,
and everyone’s having a blast to the beat of the drums,
feeling the call that comes and then runs.

Black girl: Where are my beads...? Where’s my plush hat...? Where’s my long cane...? Tell me: Where are my glasses, my striped shirt, and my fancy shoes...?
Hurry, give me all that... because the dark-skinned folks are on their way.
Look, I’m going with them because it’s the call of this Carnival.
People get wild when they hear its sound.
The neighborhood goes crazy, dancing all around,
and everyone’s having a blast to the beat of the drums,
feeling the call that comes and then runs.
It’s gone... It’s gone... It’s gone...