‘‘ Plena para Tres Mujeres’’

Today I come to sing to you what I heard my grandmother sing, in those carnivals when they danced the plena. The one that Maelo sang in that Elena candy. This contagious rhythm that is sugar and cinnamon. I also sing to Teresa, to Domitila who is fire. A plena for three women, shake it as you can. Elenita of my life, you have fire. When you move your waist Rubén goes wild. They killed Elena, boom! They killed Elena. They didn't kill her for being stupid, they kill her for being good, for being good! Elena takes. Elena asks. Elena wants. Lemon and cinnamon. Where are you going? Domitila, how I love you, Mexican, you are my treasure and you dance to the rhythm of samba, come here don't go over there. Where are you going? Oh, look, let them all dance it, oh, look, let them all enjoy it, oh, look, let them dance it, look, let them enjoy it, let them dance it, let them enjoy it, let them dance it. Where are you going? Where are you going? With the tip of your foot, Teresa, the tip of your foot, you see. If you dance it forward, oh, I'll dance it backwards. Look how it is. Everybody put your hands up and let's clap and make a racket for dawn to come. The horn is blowing. Blow it, Guillermito! Because his canoe is getting wet, because his canoe is getting wet, because his canoe is getting wet, when he crosses the Toa River. I'm going.

Hoy les vengo a cantar lo que le escuché a mi abuela,
en aquellos carnavales en que se bailó la plena.
La que cantaba Maelo en ese bombón de Elena.
Este ritmo contagioso que es azúcar y canela.
También le canto a Teresa, a Domitila que es candela.
Una plena a tres mujeres, vacílala como puedas.
Elenita de mi vida, tú lo que tienes es candela.
Cuando mueves tu cintura Rubén se desencadena.
Mataron a Elena, ¡pum! Mataron a Elena.
No la mataron por bruta, la matan por buena, ¡por buena!
Elena toma. Elena pide. Elena quiere. De limón y de canela.
¿Adónde vas?
Domitila, como yo te quiero, mexicana,
tú eres mi tesoro y tú bailas a ritmo de samba,
ven para acá no eches para allá.
¿Adónde vas?
¡Ay!, mira, que lo bailen todos, ¡ay!, mira que lo gocen todos,
¡ay!, mira que lo bailen, mira que lo goza, lo baila, lo goza, lo baila.
¿Dónde vas?
¿Adónde tú vas?
Con la punta del pie Teresa, la punta del pie, tú ves.
Si tú lo bailas al derecho, ¡ay!, yo lo bailo al revés. Mira cómo es.
Todo el mundo la mano arriba y vamos a dar palmadas
y vamos a hacer la bulla que llegue la madrugada.
Suena el bocinón.
¡Suénala, Guillermito!
Porque se le moja la canoa, porque se le moja la canoa,
porque se le moja la canoa, cuando cruza el río Toa.
Voy echando.