De Colores
"De Colores" (literally, Of Colors) is a traditional folk-song that is well known throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The song was brought to the Americas from Spain during the 16th century.[1] In modern times, the song frequently appears in collections of children's songs. It is widely used in the Roman Catholic Cursillo movement and related communities such as the Great Banquet, Chrysalis Flight and Walk to Emmaus. It is also an unofficial anthem for the United Farm Workers union.
The words of the song are an expression of joy and a celebration of all creation with its many bright colors. The four verses listed below are the most commonly used.
Common Song Words
De colores, de colores
Se visten los campos en la primavera.
De colores, de colores
Son los pajarillos que vienen de afuera.
De colores, de colores
Es el arco iris que vemos lucir.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Canta el gallo, canta el gallo
Con el quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri.
La gallina, la gallina
Con el cara, cara, cara, cara, cara.
Los pollitos/polluelos, los pollitos/polluelos
Con el pío, pío, pío, pío, pí.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
De colores, de colores
Brillantes y finos se viste la aurora.
De colores, de colores
Son los mil reflejos que el sol atesora.
De colores, de colores
Se viste el diamante que vemos lucir.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Jubilosos, jubilosos
Vivamos en gracia puesto que se puede.
Saciaremos, saciaremos
La sed ardorosa del Rey que no muere.
Jubilosos, jubilosos
Llevemos a Cristo un alma y mil más.
Difundiendo la luz que ilumina
La gracia divina del gran ideal.
Difundiendo la luz que ilumina
La gracia divina del gran ideal.
English Version
In colors, in colors
The fields are dressed in the spring.
In colors, in colors
Are the little birds that come from outside.
In colors, in colors
Is the rainbow that we see shining.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
The rooster sings, the rooster sings
With a cock-a-doodle, cock-a-doodle-doo.
The hen, the hen
With a cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.
The chicks, the chicks
With a cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
In colors, in colors
Brilliant and delicate is dressed the dawn.
In colors, in colors
Are the thousand gleams the sun treasures.
In colors, in colors
Is dressed the diamond we see shining.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
And that is why I love
The great loves of many colors.
Joyous, joyous
Let us live in grace since we can.
Let us quench, let us quench
The burning thirst of the King who does not die.
Joyous, joyous
Let us bring to Christ a soul and thousand more.
Spreading the light that illuminates
The divine grace from the great ideal.
Spreading the light that illuminates
The divine grace from the great ideal.
Dozens of other verses (and variations of these four) are known to exist. Some of these include either overt religious references or language associated with its use as a rallying-song for farm-laborers. There are several different English translations of the song in circulation, and the song has been translated into other languages.
Recordings
De Colores has been recorded by many different artists, including Los Lobos, Joan Baez, Raffi, Nana Mouskouri, Tish Hinojosa, Arlo Guthrie, José-Luis Orozcoand Justo Lamas; as well as being referred to in the Flobots song "Handlebars"
In novels
The song De Colores is sung by Angicaro (a saintly character) in Alison Mackie's novel The Gypsy Chronicles. The power and grace De Colores moves through the bus like a wave, and it is not long before everyone, including an unsavory gang of thugs trying to cause trouble, are holding hands, singing and swaying in the tradition of De Colores, brought together in spirit by the song's powerful grace.
References
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