Duerme Negrito
Bahiano Lyrics


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Duerme, duerme, negrito
Que tu mama está en el campo, negrito

Duerme, duerme, mobila
Que tu mama está en el campo, mobila

Te va traer codornices
Para ti.
Te va a traer rica fruta
Para ti
Te va a traer carne de cerdo
Para ti.
Te va a traer muchas cosas
Para ti.

Y si el negro no se duerme
Viene el diablo blanco
Y zas le come la patita
Chicapumba, apumba, chicapum

Duerme, duerme, negrito
Que tu mama está en el campo, negrito
Duerme, duerme, mobila
Que tu mama está en el campo, mobila

Trabajando
Trabajando duramente. Trabajando sí
Trabajando y va de luto. Trabajando sí
Trabajando y no le pagan. Trabajando sí
Trabajando y va tosiendo. Trabajando sí

Pa’l negrito, chiquitito
Pa’l negrito si
Trabajando sí. Trabajando sí

Duerme, duerme, negrito




Que tu mama está en el campo
Negrito, negrito, negrito.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bahiano's song "Duerme Negrito" tell the story of a mother who is away working in the fields while her child is at home sleeping. She promises to bring back various gifts for her child, including quail, fruit, and pork, and warns him that if he doesn't go to sleep, the "white devil" will come and eat his foot. The second half of the song describes the struggles of working-class people, with lyrics about mourning, not being paid, and getting sick from working too much. The mention of the "negrito" throughout the song may be seen as a reference to the African diaspora and the struggles faced by Black people throughout history.


Line by Line Meaning

Duerme, duerme, negrito
Sleep, sleep, little black one


Que tu mama está en el campo, negrito
Your Mama is in the field, little black one


Duerme, duerme, mobila
Sleep, sleep, little girl


Que tu mama está en el campo, mobila
Your Mama is in the field, little girl


Te va traer codornices
She will bring you quails


Para ti.
For you.


Te va a traer rica fruta
She will bring you tasty fruit


Para ti
For you.


Te va a traer carne de cerdo
She will bring you pork meat


Para ti.
For you.


Te va a traer muchas cosas
She will bring you many things


Para ti.
For you.


Y si el negro no se duerme
And if the black one doesn't sleep


Viene el diablo blanco
The white devil comes


Y zas le come la patita
And he bites off his little foot


Chicapumba, apumba, chicapum
No translation available


Trabajando
Working


Trabajando duramente. Trabajando sí
Working hard, working yes


Trabajando y va de luto. Trabajando sí
Working, and dressed in mourning, working yes


Trabajando y no le pagan. Trabajando sí
Working, and not getting paid, working yes


Trabajando y va tosiendo. Trabajando sí
Working, and coughing, working yes


Pa'l negrito, chiquitito
For the little black one


Pa'l negrito si
For the little black one, yes


Duerme, duerme, negrito
Sleep, sleep, little black one


Que tu mama está en el campo
Your Mama is in the field


Negrito, negrito, negrito.
Little black one, little black one, little black one.




Writer(s): Victor Jara

Contributed by Hudson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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