El Cilindro
Rubén Blades
Lyrics
Translation
Encontraron el cilindro y a su casa lo llevaron con cuidado, como a una bendición
They found the cylinder and carefully took it home, as if it were a blessing
Era Pascuas, y el cilindro su regalo, y los niños se encantaron con su aparición
It was Christmas, and the cylinder was their gift, and the children were enchanted by its appearance
Abrieron el cilindro y se maravillaron cuando vieron dentro un mágico color
They opened the cylinder and marveled when they saw a magical color inside
Como una estrella, polvo de cielo, que alegraba su miseria con su luz
Like a star, sky dust, bringing joy to their misery with its light
Sobre sus cuerpos lo restregaron, y lo adoraron como si fuera Jesús
They rubbed it on their bodies and worshiped it as if it were Jesus
Los vecinos se enteraron y curiosos visitaron "a la casa en que de noche sale el sol"
The neighbors found out and curiously visited "the house where the sun rises at night"
El cilindro y la familia fueron la mejor noticia de la Prensa, Radio
The cylinder and the family were the best news in the press, radio
Y la Televisión Un milagro de Dios?; Otro Mago de Oz; Regalo de un Platillo Volador?
And television. A miracle from God? Another Wizard of Oz? Gift from a Flying Saucer?
Aquel cilindro, con el polvo de cielo que alegraba su miseria con su luz
That cylinder, with the sky dust bringing joy to their misery with its light
Sobre sus cuerpos lo restregaron, y lo adoraron, como si fuera Jesús
They rubbed it on their bodies and worshiped it, as if it were Jesus
La luz del cilindro fue menguando y al irse se fué apagando
The light of the cylinder diminished, and as it left, it went out
El amor que lo celebró
The love that celebrated it
Uno por uno fuimos pagando el precio cruel de los que basan su felicidad en error
One by one, we paid the cruel price of those who base their happiness on error
El gobierno explicó a través de expertos que, los muertos fueron
The government explained through experts that the dead were
Víctimas de radioactividad
Victims of radioactivity
Le dieron una multa a un hospital local, por botar substancias tóxicas en un área popular
They fined a local hospital for dumping toxic substances in a popular area
No hubo milagro, ni hubo justicia, y esa tragedia no es noticia ya
There was no miracle, no justice, and that tragedy is no longer news
Ni aquel cilindro, con el polvo de cielo, que alegraba a la miseria
Nor that cylinder, with the sky dust, bringing joy to the misery
Con su luz
With its light
Ya no es noticia, esa tragedia de la Navidad sin el niño Jesús
It's no longer news, that Christmas tragedy without the baby Jesus
Nadie se acuerda de la familia que, brillando, murió en la oscuridad
Nobody remembers the family that, shining, died in the darkness
El hospital pagó su multa, barata le salió la culpa, pues la vida de un pobre no vale na'
The hospital paid its fine, the cost of guilt was cheap, as the life of a poor person is worth nothing