Carta de un soldado

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

Another one by Lalo Guerrero, "Carta de un soldado" ("Letter From a Soldier") (Colonial # 537), also released in Monterey Park, California, USA. As mentioned above, Lalo Guerrero was born 24 December 1916, in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and died 17 March 2005, in Rancho Mirage, California, USA. He has the nickname "The Father of Chicano Music". This song looks at both the soldier's perspective, writing a letter to his mother: "I'm writing you this letter from a trench, and I'm sorry if I get mud on the paper", as well as the home front perspective, with the mother receiving a killed in action (K.I.A.) notification: "the mother cried with grief, and her hands trembled with emotion". It contained some patriotic sentiment: "her son died for his country", and "take care of all the sons... fighting for liberty". Transcription and translation by Joel Garcia

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: The mailman brought a letter / The old lady was overcome with joy / But she didn't know it was a farewell from her son at war, the son she adores / Mother, it said at the beginning, I love you, and I'll miss you until later / I never knew how much I loved you, but I'll prove it when I return / I'm writing you this letter from a trench, and I'm sorry if the paper has mud on it / I remember clearly how you would scold me when I was younger for coming in with mud on my feet / The lieutenant just gave us our orders / Mother, I will always obey / I hope I'll be able to finish this letter later; for now I'll tell you that I will dream of you / The old lady cried with grief, and her hands trembled with emotion; that day came, but she could not believe that her son had died for his country / That night she knelt to pray, begging God in heaven to watch over the sons of all the mothers who tonight are fighting for liberty __________ Spanish: El cartero le trallo una carta / La viejita se, de gusto se emociono / Pero no sabio que se despedida su hijo en la guerra a quien adoro / Mamacita, decia al principio, yo te adoro, y te exttraño hasta despues / Yo nunca sabia lo que te queria pero mostrare quando vuelvo otraves / Desde una trenchera te escribo y perdona si tiene lodo el papel / Recuerdo lo mucho que me regañabas de chico quando entre con lodo en los pies / El tenete nos dio ya la orden / Mamacita yo siempre obedesere / A ver si despues yo termino esta carta por horrita…

About the artist

Born 24 December 1916, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Died 17 March 2005, Rancho Mirage, California, USA

In collections

Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]