Las Mañanitas is a traditional Mexican song that is sung on birthdays and other important holidays. It is often sung as an early morning serenade to wake up a loved one. At birthday parties it is sung before the cake is cut.

As a traditional song with a long history, there are variations of Las Mañanitas, with many different verses. At most Mexican parties only the first two verses are sung, but I have included some additional verses that are occasionally sung, particularly when it’s sung by mariachis or in a formal setting.

Las Mañanitas Lyrics:

Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

Translation:

This is the morning song that King David sang
Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you
Wake up, my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn
The birds are already singing and the moon has set

How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you
The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light
Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn

Additional verses:

El día en que tu naciste nacieron todas las flores
En la pila del bautismo, cantaron los ruiseñores

The day you were born all the flowers were born
On the baptismal font the nightingales sang

Quisiera ser solecito para entrar por tu ventana
y darte los buenos días acostadita en tu cama

I would like to be the sunshine to enter through your window
to wish you good morning while you’re lying in your bed

Quisiera ser un San Juan, quisiera ser un San Pedro
Para venirte a cantar con la música del cielo

I would like to be a Saint John I would like to be a Saint Peter
To sing to you with the music of heaven

De las estrellas del cielo tengo que bajarte dos
una para saludarte y otra para decirte adiós

Of the stars in the sky I have to lower two for you
One with which to greet you and the other to wish you goodbye

From about.com
Picture from here.

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale

Bobby McFerrin Improvises A Cappella, Song One of Two

During the “Notes & Neurons: In Search of a Common Chorus” event from the 2009 World Science Festival, Bobby McFerrin treated the audience to several improvised a cappella performances.

Picture by: © Jost L. Knaepen taken from here.

Veinte Bandas en VIVO!!!
Twenty Live Bands!!!

VI Encuentro de Musicos Colombianos en Nueva York
VI Encounter of Colombian Musicians in New York
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2009-06-14

Lucia Pulido
Hector Martignon
Edmar Castaneda
Marta Gomez
Pablo Mayor
Samuel Torres
La Cumbia EneYe
Gregorio Uribe Big Band
Ricardo Gallo Tierra de Nadie
Sebastian Cruz and his Cheap Landscape Project
Andrea Tierra
Alejandro Florez and tibagui
Johanna Castaneda
Rebolu
Diego Obregon and grupo chonta
Andres garcia
Nilko Andreas Guarin
Daniel Correa and samurindo
Fidel Cuellar
Daniel Reyes
Harold Gutierrez

www.highlineballroom.com
(Ticketweb – 866.468.7619)
Take NYC Train: A,C,E to 14th St. Station