La Baguala

when I grab a guitar
and start to tune it
without anyone asking me
I start to sing

I owe nothing to this world
what can I thank it for
if I have come to this world
only to suffer

there's no brother, no relative
of the friend, not to mention
only a mother's love
that is true

they asked me for a chacarera
to sing the baguala
young and old come out
everyone to dance

death, if you are looking for me
I will ask you a favor
let me keep singing
and take me afterwards

I don't envy others' happiness
I never did wrong in my life
either the rich or the poor
are the same to me

if the chacarera dies
I also want to die
dying with the chacarera
why live