Alfredo Zitarrosa — Coplas al compadre Juan Miguel song lyrics and translation
The page contains the lyrics and English translation of the song "Coplas al compadre Juan Miguel" by Alfredo Zitarrosa.
Lyrics
Al compadre Juan Miguel
No le pagan el jornal
Y aunque no haiga de comer
Lo mesmo hay que trabajar
Pobre compadre Miguel
La vida que le ha toca o
Todo el día lo ha pasa o
Trabajando y sin chistar
Por unos tragos de caña
El pobre compadre Juan
Pobre compadre Miguel
La vida que le ha toca o
Como cueva de peludo
La arispuca de Miguel;
Qué perro destino el suyo
Que naide se acuerda d él.*
Pobre compadre Miguel
La vida que le ha toca o
El dotor y el comisario**
Siempre le hablan de la ley
Que hay que respetar lo ajeno***
Aunque no haiga de comer
Pobre compadre Miguel
La vida que le ha toca o
Juan Miguel se ha resigna o
A vivir entre el arroz
Mientras haiga caña y mate
Hay que agradecerle a Dios
Pobre compadre Miguel
La vida que le ha toca o
Pero un día habrá de ser
Que esto se ha de terminar
Y la suerte del compadre
Pa su bien ha de cambiar
¡cuando canten estas coplas
Los peones del arrozal!****
Lyrics translation
To Comrade Juan Miguel
They don't pay him the newspaper.
And even if you don't have to eat
The same thing you have to work
Poor compadre Miguel
The life that has touched you or
The whole day has passed or
Working and not joking
For a few drinks of cane
Poor fellow Juan
Poor compadre Miguel
The life that has touched you or
Like hairy cave
The Arispuca of Miguel;
What fate dog yours
That naide remembers him.*
Poor compadre Miguel
The life that has touched you or
The doctor and the commissioner**
They always tell him about the law.
That we must respect others***
Even if you don't have to eat
Poor compadre Miguel
The life that has touched you or
Juan Miguel has resigned or
To live among the rice
As long as you haiga cane and kill
We must thank God
Poor compadre Miguel
The life that has touched you or
But one day it will be
That this has to end
And the luck of the compadre
For your good has to change
when you sing these songs
The paddy pawns!****