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If dolphins die of love
If dolphins die of love,
woe is me, what hope is there
for soft-hearted men?
From when I first looked out to sea,
I raised my eyes to view my homeland,
thinking I’ll never return there.
My sorrows are like ocean waves
coming in and going out;
day and night, they are at war with me.
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Si los delfines mueren de amores by Diego Pisador (c1509- after 1557) from Libro de música para vihuela, Salamanca, 1552. The song is from the 'Endechas de Canarias' (Laments from the Canary Islands).
Si los delfines mueren de amores
Si los delfines mueren de amores,
Triste de mí, ¿qué harán los hombres
Que tienen tiernos los corazones?
Desde que mevi la mar afuera,
Alcé mis ojos, miré a mi tierra,
Pensando no volver más a ella.
Mis penas son como ondas del mar,
Que unas se vienen y otras se van:
De día y de noche guerra me dan.
Recording. Sung by Raquel Andueza, accompanied by the harpist Sarah Ridy, from the album Mediterraneo by L'Arpeggiata.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-XnRdMjYyw
Copyright notice. The translation is provided as an aid to musicians and audiences. Publication of the translation in print or digital formats is expressly forbidden unless permission from the author has been first obtained and acknowledgement of authorship is duly made. Permission will usually be granted so please contact Paul Archer with details of how you wish to make use of the translation.
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