“The Ugly Doll” Children’s Song Translation
Composer: Francisco Gabilondo Soler (“Cri-Cri”)
Style: Children’s song about an abandoned doll. I remember Cri-Cri’s songs from my childhood. I hadn’t heard these songs in sooo long. You have no idea! Cri-Cri is Mexico’s best known writer of children’s story songs. A quick search didn’t bring up any English translations, so here I am!
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube. This website has mp3 files. “La Muñeca Fea” is on the first column, about two-thirds of the way down the list.
Translation:
Escondida por los rincones,
Temerosa que alguien la vea,
Platicaba con los ratones,
La pobre muñeca fea.
Hidden around the corners,
Fearful of being seen,
She chatted with the mice,
The poor ugly doll.
Un bracito ya se le rompió,
Su carita está llena de hollín
Y al sentirse olvidada lloro
Lagrimitas de aserrín.
A little arm already ripped,
Her little face full of soot
And on feeling forgotten, she wept
Little sawdust tears.
Muñequita, le dijo el ratón,
Ya no llores tontita no tienes razón.
Tus amigos no son los del mundo
Porque te olvidaron en este rincón.
Nosotros no somos así.
Little doll, the mouse said to her,
Don’t cry anymore, dummy, you have no reason.
Your friends are not those of the world
Because they forgot you in this corner.
We are not like that.
Te quieren la escoba y recogedor;
Te quiere el plumero y el sacudidor;
Te quieren la arana y el viejo velis;
También yo te quiero y te quiero feliz.
They love you, the broom and dustpan;
They love you, the feather duster and the carpet beater;
They love you, the spider and the old suitcase;
I, too, love you, and I want you happy.
Muñequita, le dijo el ratón,
Ya no llores tontita no tienes razón.
Tus amigos no son los del mundo
Porque te olvidaron en este rincón.
Nosotros no somos así.
Little doll, the mouse said to her,
Don’t cry anymore, dummy, you have no reason.
Your friends are not those of the world
Because they forgot you in this corner.
We are not like that.
Te quieren la escoba y recogedor;
Te quiere el plumero y el sacudidor;
Te quieren la arana y el viejo velis;
También yo te quiero y te quiero feliz.
They love you, the broom and dustpan;
They love you, the feather duster and the carpet beater;
They love you, the spider and the old suitcase;
I, too, love you, and I want you happy.
Translation Notes:
Temerosa que alguien la vea
Fearful of being seen
Fearful that someone see her [*literal]
—
También yo te quiero y te quiero feliz
I, too, love you, and I want you happy
querer [verb] = to love, to want
Te quiero = I love you
Te quiero [insert adjective] = I want you [insert adjective]
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“La Muneca Fea” by Cri-Cri — without special characters for the WordPress search
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