Canto De Ordeno
Cecilia Todd Lyrics

The lyrics of Cecilia Todd's song Canto De Ordeño are a beautiful representation of rural Venezuelan folk culture. The song is a plea to the morning star, asking for its light to guide the singer as she follows an unfaithful lover who is leaving town. The opening lines "Lucerito 'e la mañana / Préstame tu claridad" (Morning star, lend me your clarity) set the scene and the singer's desire to find her lover. The use of the morning star as a guiding light speaks to the significance of the natural world in the lives of rural Venezuelans who often rely on the cycles of the sun and moon for their daily routines.

The next stanza, "Mañana por la mañana / Cubre tu patio de flores / Que te viene a visitar / La Virgen de los Dolores" (Tomorrow morning, cover your courtyard with flowers / The Virgin of Sorrows is coming to visit you) showcases the importance of Catholicism in Venezuelan culture. The Virgin Mary, known as the Virgin of Sorrows, is a significant figure in Catholicism and is often honored with flowers and other offerings.

The song continues with references to water, such as "Allá arriba en aquel cerro / Tengo un pozo de agua clara / Dónde se lava la Virgen / Los piecitos y la cara" (Up there on that hill / I have a well of clear water / Where the Virgin washes her feet and face). Water is a scarce resource in many rural areas, and the clear well water is a symbol of abundance and purity. The song ends with a repeated reference to the butterfly, "Mariposa, mariposa, mariposa," which could symbolize the fleeting nature of love or the cycle of life and death.

Overall, Cecilia Todd's Canto De Ordeño is a beautiful and emotional tribute to the traditional rural lifestyle of Venezuela. Its references to nature, Catholicism, and water all combine to create a vivid picture of life in this part of the world.