Aspha Sumaj

From afar I have arrived
from the land of the mistol
I am burnt by the sun
and weathered by the winds
I sing with this accent
I am from Santiago, sir

I like patay, añapa
and chañar syrup
stagnant water to drink
mate, tortilla, and chipaco
and some tobacco leaves
with husk to smoke

When I want to cheer up
I go to the trenches
to dance the chacarera
derneath the itines
with harp, drum, and violins
and some vidalera boxes

For whatever you may command
I am a reliable servant
a good dancer
and good at improvising verses
from the land of Taboada
I am from Santiago, sir

I sing vidalas from the mountains
and zambas from the salt flat
those that I will never change
for songs from other lands
I will sing like my grandfather
for carnival time

My land doesn't have gold
nor wheat fields or livestock
nor green meadows
nor other signs of wealth
but it has for greatness
the soul that God has given it

It is the soul of my land
that flourishes in songs
legends and traditions
that it has known how to preserve well
and that Santiago hearts
will always keep

Among all, the best
perhaps in the whole world
and as I see it
and here I say it consciously
my homeland, my affection
is Santiago del Estero