Translation of the song lyrics La Vigüela - Gotan Project

La Vigüela (original)

Aquí me tumbo a cantar
Al compás de la vigüela
Que al hombre que lo desvela
Una pena extraordinaria
Como el ave solitaria
Con el cantar se consuela
Vengan santos milagrosos
Vengan todos en mi ayuda
Que la lengua se me añuda
Y se me turba la vista
Pido a mi dios que me asista
Y en esta ocasión me ayuda
Aquí me tumbo a cantar
Al compás de la vigüela
Que al hombre que lo desvela
Una pena extraordinaria
Como el ave solitaria
Con el cantar se consuela

La Vigüela (translation)

Here I recline, song brimming at my breast,
In time with the old guitar’s silver thread,
For the man whom sleepless sorrow will not rest,
Is lashed by grief’s tempest—strange and dread.
Like some lone bird on a wintering branch confined,
He weaves consolation from melody’s wind.
Let the miraculous saints descend through the gloom,
Let every sanctified soul answer my imploring,
For my tongue knots itself, a ship lost in the storm,
And my gaze grows clouded, the world distorting.
I call on my God—let His kindness find me,
And grant that, tonight, His hand not forsake me.
Here I recline, song brimming at my breast,
In time with the old guitar’s silver thread,
For the man whom sleepless sorrow will not rest,
Is lashed by grief’s tempest—strange and dread.
Like some lone bird on a wintering branch confined,
He weaves consolation from melody’s wind.