La tumba abandonada [English translation]

I saw many goldfinches and mockingbirds fly by,

but the song the little birds sing is sorrowful,

they head for Chihuahua to cry over Parral

where General Francisco Villa was laid to rest.

They cry when they see his grave

the grave where the General rests forever,

without a carnation, without a single flower,

just dried leaves offered by the gale.

Long live my General Francisco Villa! long live!

None of his Dorados1 want to accept

that Villa rests beneath Chihuahua's sky,

only the birds that trill over Parral

go to cry over his abandoned grave.

Only one went, the "forgotten one"2;

and he went to his grave to murmur a prayer,

my loyal friend and good soldier,

I engrave on your grave "I'm here, General".

I'm here my General Francisco Villa! I'm here!

Sing forever, oh goldfinches and mockingbirds!

and may your trills be heard through the mountain range,

and when you are once again beneath the skies of Parral

cry with me for the great Francisco Villa.

Goodbye, goodbye my little birds,

for I too want to remind my country

that there in Parral Villa can be found resting

in the heart of that place which I love.

1. Dorados = lit. "The Golden Ones" - Villa and the Dorados, “the golden Ones”, his ferocious cavalry would attack, firing accurately at a full gallop from their charging horses in the style of warfare perfected by the Apache and Comanches who the Dorados’ fathers had fought a generation earlier. [Reference]2. Refers to "Tomás Urbina Reyes", a similar song can be found here.

• Artist:Antonio Aguilar