Translation of the song lyrics Canto Abacua - Ray Barretto, Rubén Blades

Canto Abacua (original)

Se escucha el sonar de tambores
Anuncian la misa pa’l que tenga fe
Y en medio de la noche oscura
Avanzan los fieles con rumbo al bemb
Se oye el repique’l tamb
Ecos de un viejo cantar
Olofi, Lofi y Vilat
En medio e’la oscuridad
Y sigue vibrando la noche
Al compás bolero del coquioyamba
Los negros se agarran las manos
Repitiendo a coro
El viejo cantar
Se oye el repique del oyamba
Van cantando los niches de madruga
Oye mi canto abacua
Ay, a prisa negro que la misa va a empezar
Oye mi canto abacua
Yo por eso le canto porque yo se que el santo me pue' ayudar
Oye mi canto abacua
Le pedimos la libertad
Oye mi canto abacua
Campanas, campanas, campanas llamando estan
Oye mi canto abacua
Abasi vigila en la oscuridad
Abasi es tambores abacua
Cantando de madruga
Abasi es tambores abacua
Se escucha el misterioso cantar
Abasi es tambores abacua
Son los niches que te vienen a rezar
Abasi es tambores abacua
Mis tambores abacua
Abasi es tambores abacua
Abasi
Abacua
Abacua
Abacua
Abacua
Abacua
Abacua
Abacua
Abacua
Abacua
Este es mi canto abacua
Oye mi canto abacua
Ay, tambores de madruga
Oye mi canto abacua
Ayofi veme a ayudar
Oye mi canto abacua
Oye mi canto abacua
Oye mi canto abacua

Canto Abacua (translation)

The sound of drums is heard
They announce the mass for those who have faith
And in the middle of the dark night
The faithful advance towards the bemb
You can hear the peal'l tamb
Echoes of an old song
Olofi, Lofi and Vilat
In the middle of the dark
And the night continues to vibrate
To the bolero beat of coquioyamba
blacks hold hands
repeating in chorus
the old sing
The ringing of the oyamba is heard
They sing the niches at dawn
Hear my singing abacua
Oh, hurry black, the mass is going to start
Hear my singing abacua
That's why I sing to him because I know that the saint can help me
Hear my singing abacua
We ask for freedom
Hear my singing abacua
Bells, bells, bells are calling
Hear my singing abacua
Abasi watches in the dark
Abasi is abacua drums
Singing early
Abasi is abacua drums
You hear the mysterious singing
Abasi is abacua drums
They are the niches that come to you to pray
Abasi is abacua drums
my drums abacua
Abasi is abacua drums
Abazi
abacua
abacua
abacua
abacua
abacua
abacua
abacua
abacua
abacua
This is my abacua song
Hear my singing abacua
Oh, early morning drums
Hear my singing abacua
Ayofi see me help
Hear my singing abacua
Hear my singing abacua
Hear my singing abacua