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.
La Tarde
Cri-Cri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
vuelve el ganado
va por la pradera
bajo el sol dorado.
En el viejo puente
suenan cencerros
vuelven al establo
La campana
se oye repicar;
las estrellas
vuelven a brillar...
Cuando cae la tarde
Caperucita
come arroz con leche
junto a su abuelita
Y mientras escucha
el cuento del lobo,
tiembla el becerrito
que se siente solo.
En la charca
cerca del pinar
las ranitas
se ponen a croar...
Allá en la montaña
los resplandores
son de las fogatas
que hacen los pastores;
El Sutil rocío
cubre la tierra
y, tal vez de frío,
¡mugue la becerra!
The song "La Tarde" by Cri-Cri describes the peacefulness of rural life at sunset. The first verse describes the return of the cattle to the meadow under the golden sun. The sound of their bells and hooves on the old bridge can be heard as they head back to the stable. The ringing of the bell can be heard and the stars are starting to shine. This alludes to the end of the day and the start of the night.
The second verse talks about Red Riding Hood having rice pudding with her grandma along with a story about a wolf who makes the young calf shiver with fear. Meanwhile, in a nearby pond, the frogs start to croak. The third verse describes the light coming from bonfires used by the shepherds up in the mountains while the dew gently covers the earth. The little calf could also be feeling cold at this point. The song creates a warm and peaceful feeling with the use of imagery and gentle rhymes.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando cae la tarde
As the sun sets in the sky
vuelve el ganado
The cattle return home
va por la pradera
They move through the fields
bajo el sol dorado.
In the golden sunshine
En el viejo puente
On the old bridge
suenan cencerros
Bells ring out
vuelven al establo
The cows and calves return to the barn
vacas y becerros.
Cows and calves are heard
La campana
The bell
se oye repicar;
Is heard ringing
las estrellas
The stars
vuelven a brillar...
Start to shine again
Cuando cae la tarde
As the sun sets in the sky
Caperucita
Little Red Riding Hood
come arroz con leche
Eats rice pudding
junto a su abuelita
Next to her grandmother
Y mientras escucha
As she listens to
el cuento del lobo,
The story of the wolf
tiembla el becerrito
The little calf shakes
que se siente solo.
Feeling lonely
En la charca
By the pond
cerca del pinar
Near the woods
las ranitas
The frogs
se ponen a croar...
Start to croak
Allá en la montaña
Up in the mountains
los resplandores
The brightness
son de las fogatas
Are from the fires
que hacen los pastores;
Made by the shepherds
El Sutil rocío
The delicate dew
cubre la tierra
Covers the ground
y, tal vez de frío,
And perhaps because of the cold,
¡mugue la becerra!
The calf moos!
Contributed by Isabella L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.