En Mi Viejo San Juan
A song in Spanish, sung by Patricia L. Cummings
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This song is a nostalgic remembrance of San Juan, Puerto Rico, by someone who has left the country. The writer recalls the sea, his youth, and his many memories. The final verse is particularly poignant as he says that death is calling him but he does not want to die so far away from his beloved Puerto Rico.
Mi Viejo San Juan
En mi viejo San Juan, cuantos sueños forjé en mis años de infancia,
mi primera ilusión y mis cuitas de amor son recuerdos del alma.
Una tarde partí, hacia extraña nación pues lo quiso el destino,
pero mi corazón se quedó frente al mar en mi viejo San Juan.
Estribillo:
Adiós, adiós, adiós, Borinqueña querida, tierra de mi amor,
Adiós, adiós, adiós, mi diosa del mar, mi reina del palmar.
Me voy, ya me voy, pero un día volveré
a buscar mi querer a soñar otra vez, en mi viejo San Juan.
Pero el tiempo pasó y el destino burló mi terrible nostalgia
y no pude volver al San Juan que yo amé, pedacito de patria.
Mi cabello blanqueó y mi vida se va,
y la muerte me llama y no quiero morir, alejado de ti
Puerto Rico del alma.
Estribillo
View of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico given to me on a handmade book of songs, written in Spanish, from a friend I met in Spain
In My Old San Juan (Puerto Rico)
translated by Patricia Cummings
In my old San Juan, how many dreams
did I forge in my childhood,
my first illusion, and my cares of love
are remembrances of my soul.
One day I left for another nation
as that is what destiny wanted,
but my heart remained next to the sea
in my Old San Juan.
Good bye, good bye, good bye,
beloved Puerto Rico, beloved land of my love.
Good bye, good bye, good bye,
goddess of the sea, my queen of the palm grove.
I am going, I am already going (dying?),
but one day I will return
to look for my love, to dream another time
in my old San Juan.
But time passed and destiny made fun of my terrible nostalgia,
and I couldn't return to San Juan that I loved, small piece of homeland.
My hair turned white, and my life is passing,
and Death is calling me,
and I do not want to die, separated from you,
Puerto Rico of my soul.
~~~~~
See the photo blog of my nephew who is a private pilot, professional airline steward, and professional photographer. He journeys to Puerto Rico weekly and has posted some wonderful photos of the Island: http://windwardjourney.com/
NOTES
Boricua is the original name of the island of Puerto Rico. La "Borinqueña querida" is a term of endearment which means, "My beloved homeland, Puerto Rico."
There are regional differences in pronunciation throughout the Spanish speaking world. Puerto Ricans have a distinctive way of speaking as they do not pronouce the final "s" of words. In this song, "Adiós" is an example of that.
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