DRUME NEGRITA (Eliseo Grenet 1893-1950)
Mama la negrita / se le salen los pies de la cunita
y la negra Merce / ya no sabe que hacer
Tu drume, negrita / que yo va compra nueva cunita
que va tener capitel / que va tener cascabel
Si tu drume yo te traigo un mamey muy colorado
si tu drume yo te traigo un babalao que da pao pao
Tu drume negrita / que yo va compra nueva cunita
que va tener capitel / que va tener cascabel
Sleep my little black baby / And I will buy for you a new baby crib
That should have a top cap and also a bell

If you sleep I will bring you a very red mamey
If you don't I will bring you a babalao / That will give you pau pau
The feet of the little black baby / Come out of her crib
And the black Merce' doesn't know what to do
Sleep my little black baby / And I will buy for you a new baby crib
That should have a top cap and also a bell
If you sleep I will bring you a very red mamey
If you don't I will bring you a babalao / That will give you pau pau.
mamey: Cuban fruit
babalao: Santeria priest
pau pau: to give a wack with a stick