As played by Orquesta Lucio Demare, featuring Raúl Berón
Quebradeño a mí me dicen porque nací en La Quebrada.
Carnavalito de mi querer, toda la rueda venga a bailar.
Porque soy como mis cerros, curtido por la quebrada,
carnavalito de mi querer, toda la rueda venga bailar.
carna-carnavalito, cora-corazoncito, porque soy desdicha'o vivo llorando, llorando
Pum pum carnavalito (venga la gente a bailar, carnavalito).
En el manantial se apaga la sed, la sed de vivir, la sed de viajar
En el carnaval que hay miel de calmar la sed de un amor que me hace llorar
carna-carnavalito, cora-corazoncito, porque soy desdicha'o vivo llorando, llorando
Pum pum carnavalito (venga la gente a bailar, carnavalito)
Palomita sin palomar, un viento malo te quebró,
carnavalito que hay de curar con yuyo bueno del corazón
Lay-lalalala-lalalalala
(carnavalito de mi querer, toda la rueda venga a bailar)
carna-carnavalito, cora-corazoncito, porque soy desdicha'o vivo llorando, llorando
Pum pum carnavalito (venga la gente a bailar, carnavalito)
carnavalito
I first thought of posting Carnavalito's lyrics and translation because usually it's a lot less thoughtful input than insight in a specific topic. But after going through the song, I realize there's a lot more into it than I can handle if I were to go in depth. There are many elements about this song, but unfortunately I don't have the expertise to be knowledgeable about them, so I can only do my best in skimming through with the help of my friend Lucio (not Demare, this one). Any mistakes in the transcription, translation, and notes from the song are probably mine.
Here is my take on the translation:
They call me "Quebradeño" because I was born in La Quebrada.
Carnavalito of my love, all the circle come dance.
Because I'm like my hills, tanned by the stream!
Carnavalito of my love, all the circle come dance.
carna-carnavalito, little, little heart, because I'm unhappy, I live crying, crying.
Pum, pum carnavalito (all the people come dance, carnavalito)
By the water spring the thirst to live, the thirst to travel, are put out.
At the carnival there is honey to calm the thirst of a love that makes me cry.
Carna-carnavalito, little, little heart, because I'm unhappy, I live crying, crying.
Pum, pum carnavalito (all the people come dance, carnavalito).
Little dove without a dovecot, a bad wind broke you
Carnavalito that will heal with good herb of the heart.
Lay-lalalala-lalalalala
(Carnavalito of my love, all the circle come dance.)
Carna-carnavalito, little, little heart, because I'm unhappy, I live crying, crying.
Pum, pum carnavalito (all the people come dance, carnavalito)
Carnavalito
Notes:
-In the first line where the lyrics refer to the narrator being from La Quebrada, he probably means Quebrada de Humahuaca, a narrow valley in Jujuy, in Northwest Argentina, where the indigenous population is dominant. It is often said that Tango has its origins in European music, but, like Latin American art and music, its African and indigenous influences cannot be neglected. I believe this song emphasizes on the indigenous and African cultures in tango. Carnavalito is a dance performed during carnival festivities in the Andean Northwest region of Argentina. Unfortunately, I don't know enough about this dance to give any further information about it...
-When I was first transcribing the lyrics, I was a little startled because some parts of the lyrics were not enunciated clearly, which was surprising considering Berón's usually flawless modulation. Maybe it is done the way it is to fit the rhythm, but it could also be to emulate the Jujuy accent.
-Lucio, who again helped me decipher parts of the lyrics and also briefly gave me some information about La Quebrada and its people, also noted that the chorus has a very Murga feeling. This murga-like chorus is perhaps homage to the Afro-Uruguayan influence in tango. These indigenous and Afro-Uruguayan elements perhaps make this song seem almost like a folkloric song rather than a typical milonga. I heard somewhere this is the reason why this song isn't played as a milonga in Buenos Aires. Overall, it can be said that it's a celebration to the indigenous-style festivities of Carnival, regardless of its Catholic tradition.
-On a completely different note, I have to confess really did this song because I love Berón's singing. As my fellow contributor Ingeniero knows, I'm in love with Berón full stop. I mention this, though, because I had an interesting conversation at a milonga the other day. Una Emoción by Demare and Berón was playing, and my friend Leo asked me if I preferred that version to Tanturi and Campos's. He prefers Tanturi's for dancing, and told me jokingly that maybe I preferred Demare's because I'm a hopeless romantic. From then, I've seen many sources refer to Berón as the ultimate romantic voice of tango. What is it that makes a vocalist romantic or otherwise? I never perceived Berón's voice as overly romantic. In fact, I like his voice because it gives me a cool, chilly feeling as opposed to a warm feeling I get when listening to, say, Podestá (whom I also love... yes, I'm promiscuous when it comes to tango vocalists, so what?).
Special acknowledgment and thanks to Lucio S. and Lucio Demare!
