Cri-Cri is known as the "grillito cantor" or "the singing cricket". He is a character created by Francisco Gabilondo Soler in his childhood and may even be considered "his inner personality"
The character became so famous and gave its author such renown, that it became a second name for Gabilondo. In the mid part of the 20th century he became the most recognizable singer of children's songs in Spanish. Gabilondo's dedication to this segment of the population has been greatly admired, comparable to Walt Disney in his honest approach to making life fun for those who are getting started in life.
El Velador
Cri-Cri Lyrics
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vecino de los que duermen
siempre a su alderedor
manque no puedan verme.
Pero me oirán silbar
allá en la lejanía
y mi chiflido da
Yo me crié en una mina
sin salir a la luz del sol
a tinieblas impuesto
me volví velador.
Soy el velador
Marcial Valentín Machorro
al que le dicen el Lión
porque jamás le corro.
Como había de juir
si mi valor me ordena
corretiar al ladrón
y hasta un fantasma en pena.
Hijo de una lechuza
nieto de tecolote soy
con razón me dispierto
onde quiera que estoy.
Ya serán las tres
furioso un perro ladra
con el permiso de asté
me voy pa'la otra cuadra.
In Cri-Cri's song "El Velador," the singer introduces himself as a night guard who watches over those who sleep, even if they cannot see him. Despite his invisibility, he notes that he can be heard whistling in the distance, and his sad melody evokes a sense of melancholy. The singer goes on to describe his upbringing in a mine and his eventual role as a night guard, tasked with chasing away thieves and even ghosts. He is known as Marcial Valentín Machorro, also called "El León," due to his fearlessness and loyalty to his duties. The singer ends the song by hearing a dog barking in the distance, prompting him to move on to the next block to continue his watch.
Line by Line Meaning
Soy el velador
I am the night watchman
vecino de los que duermen
neighbor of those who sleep
siempre a su alderedor
always around them
manque no puedan verme.
even if they cannot see me
Pero me oirán silbar
But they will hear me whistle
allá en la lejanía
far in the distance
y mi chiflido da
and my whistle gives
triste melancolía.
a sad melancholy.
Yo me crié en una mina
I was raised in a mine
sin salir a la luz del sol
without ever seeing the sunlight
a tinieblas impuesto
condemned to darkness
me volví velador.
I became a night watchman.
Soy el velador
I am the night watchman
Marcial Valentín Machorro
My name is Marcial Valentín Machorro
al que le dicen el Lión
also known as The Lion
porque jamás le corro.
because I never run away.
Como había de juir
How could I run away
si mi valor me ordena
if my courage commands me
corretiar al ladrón
to chase away the thief
y hasta un fantasma en pena.
even a grieving ghost.
Hijo de una lechuza
Son of an owl
nieto de tecolote soy
grandson of a burrowing owl
con razón me dispierto
no wonder I wake up
onde quiera que estoy.
wherever I am.
Ya serán las tres
It's already three
furioso un perro ladra
a dog barks furiously
con el permiso de asté
with your permission
me voy pa'la otra cuadra.
I'm off to the next block.
Contributed by Adalyn S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.