Cielito Lindo

"Cielito Lindo" is a popular traditional song of Mexico, written in 1882 by Quirino Mendoza y Cortés (c. 1859–1957). The melody was used as the basis for a popular song, "You, Me, and Us," which became a hit for Alma Cogan in the United Kingdom in 1957.

Lyrics

Spanish

English Translation

De la Sierra Morena, Cielito lindo, vienen bajando, Un par de ojitos negros, Cielito lindo, de contrabando. Estribillo: Ay, ay, ay, ay, Canta y no llores, Porque cantando se alegran, Cielito lindo, los corazones. Pájaro que abandona, Cielito lindo, su primer nido, Si lo encuentra ocupado, Cielito lindo, bien merecido. (Estribillo) Ese lunar que tienes, Cielito lindo, junto a la boca, No se lo des a nadie, Cielito lindo, que a mí me toca. (Estribillo) Si tu boquita morena, Fuera de azúcar, fuera de azúcar, Yo me lo pasaría, Cielito lindo, chupa que chupa. (Estribillo) De tu casa a la mía, Cielito lindo, no hay más que un paso, Antes que venga tu madre, Cielito lindo, dame un abrazo. (Estribillo) Una flecha en el aire, Cielito lindo, lanzó Cupido, y como fue jugando, Cielito lindo, yo fui el herido. (Estribillo)

From the Sierra Morena mountains, Pretty sky, coming down, a pair of black eyes, Pretty sky, which are contraband. Refrain: Ay, ay, ay, ay, sing and don't cry, because singing gladdens, pretty sky, one's heart. Bird that abandons, pretty sky, his first nest, if he finds it occupied, pretty sky, is well deserved. (Refrain) That beauty mark you have pretty sky, next to your mouth, don't give it to anyone, pretty sky, for it belongs to me. (Refrain) If your little brown mouth were made of sugar, were made of sugar I would spend my time, pretty sky, sucking(x2) (Refrain) From your house to mine pretty sky, there is no more than a step. Before your mother comes, pretty sky, give me a hug. (Refrain) An arrow in the air pretty sky, Cupid launched And since it was a game, pretty sky, I got hurt. (Refrain)

Note: The English translation of the lyrics, for some verses, is metaphoric rather than literal.

Appropriation

• for Tex Mex restaurant Chi Chi's advertising campaign: "Fri yi yi yi, yi yi yied ice cream". Some Spanish and Mexican natives see this version as very insulting to their culture and heritage, however.
• for the jingle of the Frito Bandito, also seen as an ethnic insult.

This song was used for Shining Time Station Episode Becky Makes A Wish.

• • "Cielito lindo", can be translated directly to mean "pretty little sky" or "lovely little heaven", cielito lindo is used as a term of endearment comparable to "sweetheart".

In Popular Culture

• A recording by Trini Lopez was used in the film "Born on the Fourth of July (film)" (1989).
• The song has been used many times in the television show, I Love Lucy.
• In the movie Blood In Blood Out, the other Vatos Locos singing the first two lines of the refrain mockingly as Miklo is getting the placa (hand tattoo) painfully burned onto his hand.

See also

Also recorded by Chingon on the album Mexican Spaghetti Western (2004). A band that has movie director and producer Robert Rodriguez as guitarist.

Frito Bandito