Mama, the little black girl
Mamá, la negrita
Her feet stick out of the cradle
Se les salen los pies 'e la cunita
And black Mercé
Y la negra Mercé
No longer knows what to do
Ya no sabe que hace'
You, sleep little black girl
Tú, drume negrita
No new cradle will be bought
Que no va compra' nueva cunita
That will have a canopy
Que tendrá capitel
And also a bell
Y también ca'cabel
Mama, the little black girl
Mamá, la negrita
Her feet stick out of the cradle
Se les salen los pies 'e la cunita
And old Mercé
Y la vieja Mercé
No longer knows what to do
Ya no sabe que hace'
You, sleep little black girl
Tú, drume negrita
No new cradle will be bought
Que no va compra' nueva cunita
That will have a canopy
Que tendrá capitel
And also a bell
Y también ca'cabel
If you sleep, I'll bring you a melon
Si tú drume yo te traigo un melón
So red and sweet
Mu' colora'o
If you don't sleep, I'll bring a babalao
Si no drume yo te traigo un babalao
Who gives a pow pow
Que da pao pao
You, sleep little black girl
Tú, drume negrita
No new cradle will be bought
Que no va compra' nueva cunita
That will have a canopy
Que tendrá capitel
And also a bell
Y también ca'cabel
If you sleep, I'll bring you a melon
Si tú drume yo te traigo un melón
So red and sweet
Mu' colora'o
If you don't sleep, I'll bring a Babalawo
Si no drume yo te traigo un Babalawo
Who gives a pow pow
Que da pao pao
You, sleep little black girl
Tú, drume negrita
For I'll buy a new cradle
Que yo va compra' nueva cunita
That will have a canopy
Que tendrá capitel
And also a bell
Y también ca'cabel
Sleep little black girl, there's a bembe
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
If you don't sleep, I won't go to the bembe
Si tú no drume no voy a bembe
Sleep little black girl, there's a bembe
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
There's a bembe at Merce's house
Hay un bembe en casa 'e Merce'
Sleep little black girl, there's a bembe
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
And beautiful ye ye oh ye ye
Y hermosa ye ye oh ye ye
Sleep little black girl, there's a bembe
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
Because of you, my little black boy has gone
Por culpa tuya mi negrito se fue
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
I'll offer my hand to Yeye
Yo voy a ofrecerle la mano a yeye
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
Sleep, sleep, little one
Drume, drume negrita
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
If you sleep, little one, I'll buy you a cradle
Si tú drume negrita yo te compro cunita
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
Celebration, celebration, to the water say ye
Bembe, bembe al agua dilo ye
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
Octavio brings the joy
Octavio si le echa gozo
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
Octavio brings the joy
Octavio si le echa gozo
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
Sleep, little one, sleep, little one
Drume negrita, drume negrita
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe
I'll buy you a cradle, my little one
Yo te compro cunita mi negrita
Sleep, little one, there's a celebration
Drume negrita que hay un bembe