Lyrics of El Padre Antonio - Rubén Blades

El Padre Antonio (original)

El Padre Antonio Tejeira vino de Espaa
Buscando nuevas promesas en esta tierra
Lleg a la selva sin la esperanza de ser obispo
Y entre el calor y en entre los mosquitos habl de Cristo
El padre no funcionaba en el Vaticano
Entre papeles y sueos de aire acondicionado;
Y fue a un pueblito en medio de la nada a dar su sermn
Cada semana pa' los que busquen la salvacin
El nio Andrs Eloy Prez tiene diez aos
Estudia en la elementaria «Simn Bolivar»
Todavia no sabe decir el Credo correctamente;
Le gusta el ro, jugar al ftbol y estar ausente
Le han dado el puesto en la iglesia de monaguillo
A ver si la conexin compone al chiquillo;
Y su familia est muy orgullosa, porque a su vez se cree
Que con Dios conectando a uno, conecta a diez
Suenan la campanas un, dos, tres
Del Padre Antonio y su monaguillo Andrs
Suenan la campanas otra ves
Del Padre Antonio y su monaguillo Andrs
El padre condena la violencia
Sabe por experiencia que no es la solucin
Les habla de amor y de justicia
De Dios va la noticia vibrando en su sermn:
Suenan las campanas: un, dos, tres
Del Padre Antonio y su monaguillo Andrs
Suenan la campanas otra ves
Del Padre Antonio y su monaguillo Andrs
Al padre lo hall la guerra un domingo de misa
Dando la comunin en mangas de camisa
En medio del padre nuestro entr el matador
Y sin confesar su culpa le dispar
Antonio cayo, ostia en mano y sin saber por qu
Andrs se muri a su lado sin conocer a Pel;
Y entre el grito y la sorpresa, agonizando otra vez
Estaba el Cristo de palo pegado a la pared
Y nunca se supo el criminal quin fue
Del Padre Antonio y su monaguillo Andrs
Pero suenan las campanas otra ves
Por el Padre Antonio y su monaguillo Andres
Suenan las campanas
Tierra va a temblar
Suenan las campanas
Por amrica
Suenan las campanas
Oh;
virgen seora
Quien nos salva ahora
Suenan las campanas
De antonio y andres
Suenan las campanas
Ven y oyela otra ves
Suena la campana
Centroamericana
Suena la campana
Por mi tierra hermana
Mira y tu veras
Suena la campana
El mundo va a cambiar

(translation)

Father Antonio Tejeira came from Spain
Looking for new promises in this land
He arrived in the jungle without the hope of becoming a bishop
And between the heat and between the mosquitoes I spoke of Christ
The father did not work in the Vatican
Between papers and dreams of air conditioning;
And he went to a little town in the middle of nowhere to give his sermon
Every week for those who seek salvation
The boy Andrs Eloy Prez is ten years old
He studies at the “Simn Bolivar” elementary school.
He still doesn't know how to say the Creed correctly;
He likes the river, playing football and being away
They have given him the position in the church of altar boy
Let's see if the connection composes the kid;
And his family is very proud of him, because he in turn believes
That with God connecting one, connects ten
The bells ring one, two, three
From Father Antonio and his altar boy from him Andrs
the bells ring again
From Father Antonio and his altar boy from him Andrs
The father condemns violence
He knows from experience that it is not the solution
He speaks to them of love and justice
From God the news vibrates in his sermon about him:
The bells ring: one, two, three
From Father Antonio and his altar boy from him Andrs
the bells ring again
From Father Antonio and his altar boy from him Andrs
The father was found by war on a Sunday at mass
Giving communion on shirt sleeves
In the middle of our father the matador entered
And without confessing his guilt he shot him
Antonio fell, ostia in hand and without knowing why
Andrs died by his side without knowing Pel;
And between the scream and the surprise, dying again
The wooden Christ was attached to the wall
And the criminal was never known
From Father Antonio and his altar boy from him Andrs
But the bells ring again
For Father Antonio and his altar boy Andres
the bells ring
Earth is going to shake
the bells ring
for america
the bells ring
Oh;
virgin lady
who saves us now
the bells ring
From Antonio and Andres
the bells ring
Come and hear it again
Bell rings
Central American
Bell rings
for my land sister
look and you will see
Bell rings
The world is going to change