‘‘ Porqué llora el niño?’’

VOICE 1: The gossip about Iyabo is known, all of Havana knows it. The gossip about Iyabo is known, all of Havana knows it. That so-and-so with what's-her-name, that so-and-so with what's-her-name under a staircase. Oh, my mother, for God's sake. CHORUS: Mama, I want, Mama, I want, Mama, I want, Mama, the pacifier, the pacifier, the pacifier so the child won't cry. VOICE 1: Why is the child crying, Mama? They've tried to take away his bottle. CHORUS: Why is the child crying, Mama? They've tried to take away his bottle. VOICE 1: Oh, don't take away his bottle, don't be mean to my child, come here, my love, Mama, come here. CHORUS: Why is the child crying, Mama? VOICE 1: Take your bottle. CHORUS: They've tried to take away his bottle. VOICE 1: Listen to Mommy, Mommy won't scold you. Come here, Mommy, come on, suck on your bottle. CHORUS: Why is the baby crying, Mommy? They tried to take his bottle away. VOICE 1: Oh, they tried to take his bottle away, they tried to take my sweet baby's bottle away. CHORUS: Why is the baby crying, Mommy? They tried to take his bottle away. VOICE 1: Yes, come here, Daddy, come here, come here, I'm going to give you back your bottle. CHORUS: Give the baby back your bottle. VOICE 1: Oh, how nice, like this, Daddy, suck on your bottle. CHORUS: Give the baby back your bottle. VOICE 1: Oh, don't take my baby's bottle away. CHORUS: Give the baby back your bottle. VOICE 1: Oh, how nice, come here, Mommy, Daddy, come here, suck on your bottle. CHORUS: Give the baby back your bottle. VOICE 1: Of course they're wretches, they took his bottle. CHORUS: Give the baby back his bottle. VOICE 1: And I have a little black boy, come here, my little angel, take your bottle, daddy, come here. CHORUS: Give the baby back his bottle. VOICE 1: Oh, how nice, come here, mama, papa, mama, come here. CHORUS: Give the baby back his bottle. VOICE 1: What, come here, oh, but mama, your bottle is so nice. CHORUS: Give the baby back his bottle. VOICE 1: They already gave it back, oh, how nice, he was shouting. CHORUS: Give the baby back his bottle. (…)

VOZ 1: El chisme de la Iyabo
lo sabe,
lo sabe La Habana entera.

El chisme de la Iyabo
lo sabe,
lo sabe La Habana entera.

Que fulano con mengana,
que fulano con mengana
debajo de una escalera.
Ay, mi madre, por Dios.

CORO: Mamá, yo quiero, mamá, yo quiero,
mamá, yo quiero, mamá,
a la chupeta, a la chupeta,
a la chupeta para que el niño no llore

VOZ 1: ¿Por qué llora el niño, mamá?
La mamadera le han querido quitar.
CORO: ¿Por qué llora el niño, mamá?
La mamadera le han querido quitar.

VOZ 1: Ay, no le quiten la mamadera,
no sean malos con mi niño,
ven mi vida, mama, ven.

CORO: ¿Por qué llora el niño, mamá?
VOZ 1: Coge tu mamadera
CORO: La mamadera le han querido quitar.

VOZ 1: Hazle caso a mamita, que mamita sí no te va a regañar,
Ven, mama, anda,
mama tu mamadera.

CORO: ¿Por qué llora el niño, mamá?
La mamadera le han querido quitar.
VOZ 1: Ay, la mamadera le han querido quitar,
la mamadera le han querido quitar a mi niño lindo.

CORO: ¿Por qué llora el niño, mamá?
La mamadera le han querido quitar.
VOZ 1: Sí ven, papi, ven,
Ven que te voy a devolver la mamadera.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
VOZ 1: Ay, qué rico, así papi, mama tu mamadera.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
VOZ 1: Ay, no le quites la mamadera a mi niño.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
VOZ 1: Ay, qué rico, ven, mama, papi, ven,
mama tu mamadera.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
VOZ 1: Claro que son desgraciados
le han quitado la mamadera.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
VOZ 1: Y yo tengo un negrito, ven, angelito mío,
coge tu mamadera, papi, ven.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
VOZ 1: Ay, qué rico, ven mama, papa, mama, anda.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
VOZ 1: Cómo, ven, ay, pero mama rico tu mamadera.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
VOZ 1: Ya se la devolvieron,
ay, qué bueno estaba en un grito.
CORO: Devuélvele la mamadera al niño.
(…)