Duerme negrito
Quilapayún Lyrics


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Duerme, duerme, negrito,
Que tu mama está en el campo
Negrito.
Duerme, duerme, negrito,
Que tu mama está en el campo,
Negrito.
Te va a traer codornices para ti,
Te va a traer ricas frutas para ti,
Te va a traer carne de cerdo para ti,
Te va a traer mucha cosa para ti.
Y si negro no se duerme
Viene diablo blanco
Y ¡zas!
Le come la patita.

Duerme, duerme, negrito,
Que tu mama está en el campo,
Negrito.
Trabajando, trabajando duramente,
Trabajando sí,
Trabajando y va tosiendo,
Trabajando sí,
Trabajando y no le pagan,
Trabajando sí,
Trabajando y va de luto,
Trabajando sí,

Pa'l negrito chiquitito,
Trabajando sí,
Pa'l negrito chiquitito,
Trabajando sí,
Va de luto sí,
Va tosiendo sí,
No le pagan sí,
Duramente sí,

Duerme, duerme, negrito,




Que tu mama está en el campo,
Negrito.

Overall Meaning

The song "Duerme negrito" by Quilapayún is a lullaby that tells the story of a baby boy who cannot sleep. The mother of the child is away working in the fields, and promises to bring him food and other things when she returns. The song opens with the repeated phrase "Duerme, duerme, negrito" which means "Sleep, sleep, little black one" and serves to calm the child and encourage him to sleep. The mother promises to bring him a variety of things, including quails, rich fruits, and pork meat. The final verse warns the child that if he does not go to sleep, a "white devil" will come and eat his little foot.


However, the song also has a deeper meaning beyond a simple lullaby. The lyrics speak to the hardship and discrimination faced by many Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latinx people. The image of the mother working hard in the fields, and not receiving fair pay for her labor or recognition, is a commentary on the exploitation of Black and Brown workers. The line "Va de luto" which means "wearing mourning clothes" suggests that the mother has recently lost a loved one, further underscoring the struggles she faces.


Despite the lyrics' somber themes, the melody is gentle and soothing, making it a beloved lullaby in Latin America. The song has been covered by many artists and is considered a classic of Latin American folk music. Its popularity has helped to highlight the struggles faced by Black and Brown communities in the region.


Line by Line Meaning

Duerme, duerme, negrito, Que tu mama está en el campo, Negrito.
Sleep, sleep, little black boy, because your mother is in the field, little black one.


Te va a traer codornices para ti, Te va a traer ricas frutas para ti, Te va a traer carne de cerdo para ti, Te va a traer mucha cosa para ti.
She will bring quail for you, she will bring delicious fruits for you, she will bring pork for you, she will bring many things for you.


Y si negro no se duerme Viene diablo blanco Y ¡zas! Le come la patita.
And if the black boy doesn't sleep, a white devil arrives and bites off his little foot.


Trabajando, trabajando duramente, Trabajando sí, Trabajando y va tosiendo, Trabajando sí, Trabajando y no le pagan, Trabajando sí, Trabajando y va de luto, Trabajando sí,
Working, working hard, yes working, working and coughing, working yes, working and not getting paid, working yes, working and dressed in mourning, working yes.


Pa'l negrito chiquitito, Trabajando sí, Pa'l negrito chiquitito, Trabajando sí, Va de luto sí, Va tosiendo sí, No le pagan sí, Duramente sí,
For the little black boy, working yes, for the little black boy, working yes, dressed in mourning yes, coughing yes, not getting paid yes, working hard yes.


Duerme, duerme, negrito, Que tu mama está en el campo, Negrito.
Sleep, sleep, little black boy, because your mother is in the field, little black one.




Contributed by Jake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Sebastiàn Valencia

Mi madre nos cantaba esta canción a mi hermano y a mi. . . Para irnos a dormir....nunca se me olvidó la letra.

Ernesto Morote

Mi papá nos la ponía para dormir, aquellas épocas bellas.

Marivic Reyes Sosa

Espero que mis hijos siempre recuerden que yo se las cantaba

MECAGGOENKIENKIERO

con esta me dormia yo y ahora se duerme mi hijo, gracias!

꯳⃘꤫ ㅤㅤㅤ💗 ۣㅤㅤㅤmarguerites

mi padre me cantaba esta canción cuando pequeña. me llena el sentimiento porque ya no está conmigo. :-(

alejandragallegosp

Hermosísimo recuerdo, yo se la cantaba a mi hijo mayor.

Jose vicente villalobos echeto

Me duermo 😴😪

Lautaro Amarilla

La de el padre esta mejor

ElBuenoDeJavier

me la cantaba mi madre

Rodrigo Sanchez

Que triste origen

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