Guadalupe
Linda Ronstadt Los Lobos & The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cando Vai Pola Ribeira
Descalciña Pola Area
Parece Unha Rianxeira
Descalciña Pola Area
Parece Unha Rianxeira
Ondiñas Veñen,
Ondiñas Veñen
Non Te Vaias Rianxeira
Que Te Vas A Marear
Ondiñas Veñen,
Ondiñas Veñen
Ondiñas Veñen E Van
Non Te Vaias Rianxeira
Que Te Vas A Marear
A Virxe De Guadalupe
Quen A Fixo Moreniña
A Virxe De Guadalupe
Quen A Fixo Moreniña
Foi Un Raiño De Sol
Que Entrou Pola Ventaniña
Foi Un Raiño De Sol
Que Entrou Pola Ventaniña
Ondiñas Veñen,
Ondiñas Veñen
Ondiñas Veñen E Van
Non Te Vaias Rianxeira
Que Te Vas A Marear
Ondiñas Veñen,
Ondiñas Veñen
Ondiñas Veñen E Van
Non Te Vaias Rianxeira
Que Te Vas A Marear
The lyrics of "Guadalupe" by Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, and The Chieftains describe the appearance of the image of the Virxe de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) near the Ribeira (shoreline) in what seems to be a vision or dream. The Virgin is described as a barefoot young woman who looks like a "rianxeira," which is someone from the town of Rianxo in Galicia, a region in northwest Spain. The chorus warns the rianxeira not to go away, as the waves come and go and could make her dizzy.
The second verse explains that the Virxe de Guadalupe was made a "moreniña" (a brunette girl) by a "raiño de sol" (ray of sun) that came in through the "ventaniña" (little window). This description may be interpreted as a religious miracle or as an allegory for the way in which the sun transforms the earth and its inhabitants. The chorus repeats the warning not to go away as the waves come and go.
The song combines elements of Galician and Mexican cultures, paying tribute to the Virxe de Guadalupe, a beloved religious figure in Mexico, who is also venerated by Galician emigrants to Mexico. The lyrics are sung in Galician, while the music incorporates Mexican influences such as mariachi horns and the use of the popular Mexican instrument the vihuela. The song also features the Celtic-inspired sound of The Chieftains, a group from Ireland, emphasizing the connection between Celtic and Galician traditions.
Line by Line Meaning
A Virxe De Guadalupe
Referring to the Virgin of Guadalupe, a famous Catholic icon in Mexico
Cando Vai Pola Ribeira
When she goes by the riverside
Descalciña Pola Area
Walking barefoot on the sand
Parece Unha Rianxeira
Seeming like a little queen
Ondiñas Veñen, Ondiñas Veñen, Ondiñas Veñen E Van
Waves come, waves come, waves come and go
Non Te Vaias Rianxeira Que Te Vas A Marear
Don't leave, little queen, you'll get dizzy
A Virxe De Guadalupe Quen A Fixo Moreniña
The Virgin of Guadalupe who was made a little brown-skinned girl
Foi Un Raiño De Sol Que Entrou Pola Ventaniña
It was a ray of sun that came through the window
Writer(s): Composer & Author Trad, Paddy Maloney
Contributed by Audrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.