Yunu Yucu Ninu (Lila Downs)

Mixtec song performed by Lila Downs from her album Yutu Tata.

Cancion Mixteca interpretada por Lila Downs de su album Yutu Tata

Lyrics:

Yucu ninu xian kumani
ini-ri jin-ro kua'a kiti nchaka-ro
nuni chaa nu-un nayy roo
nta'u nta'u ntukuini-ro

Maro skuanu yunu
skaunu ita yisi
ita nteya, vincha, ji'i
ntuvi ja kanuu skuanu-ro

Yunu nuyuja,
nuxenu, nujanu
nuyuntu, inti-i kanuu
lo iin chaa ntitu roo
te tu kuenta sa'a-de
konte nu ni ntau-ro
Pan ni sa'a
te vasi nuku'un ini-de roo

Chii maro kuu ja sa'a
Lu! Lu! yuku ninu
te nuu nte'e jika-yo
tuun! tuun! ntukuini-ro


Translation:

Mountain of Yucuninu,
my appreciation is for you
you feed so many animals,
and when you burn
you remain without forests,
what sadness, what sadness

From you the trees grow,
and also the drunk flower,
the orchid, the cactus, the mushrooms
and everything that is essential

Pine tree, so twisted & cracked you are the motherlode of luxuries

Your guardians watch over you,
but don't pay attention,
until they see you fall,
when they see the voracious flames,
then they remember you

You are what coffins are made from,
and seats, and beds and everything

You are of vital importance,
From you.. fire wood, building materials
and the cross on top of the mountain.

You are used for everyhting
that is why people take care of you
you are the one who gives us beauty
beautiful, beautiful Yucuninu!

Your beauty is bewitching
when we see you from afar
dressed in black
and charred you will remain.


Traduccion:

Cerro de Yucuninu,
mi aprecio es para ti
tu alimentas a tantos animales,
y cuando sufres incendios
te quedes sin bosque
que triste! que triste!

De ti crecen los arboles
crece la flor de borrachitos
la orquidea, el nopal, los hongos
todo lo necessario

Arbol del Ocote! crucillo!
engretado! madrono de lujos!

Un guardian te cuida y no te hacen caso
hasta que te ven caer
y ven bramas de tempestades
entonces se acuerdan de ti

De ti convierten el ataud
te ocupan como asiento
te ocupan como cama
te ocupan para todo

Eres de vital importancia
de ti la lena, de ti el ocote
de ti el cabon, arbol!
tue eres la cruz del clavario

En todo eres ocupado
por eso la gente te cuida
tu eres quien nos da la belleza
lindo! lindo! yucuninu

Cuando te vemos lejos,
Tu belleza es encantadora
de negro te vistes
y negro te sequiras viendo

Category:

Music

Tags:

• World
• Music
• Mexico
• Mixtec

[DianaVeronicaXuxu]

EatNopales:

Eres un verdadero CHINGÓN, carnal.

Lila Downs is just amazing. Thanks a lot for posting such a wonderful piece, specially the lyrics.

Actually, this is my almost 7 years old boy favorite song. His grandparents are from a small community named Chalcatongo in the Mixteca Alta and so he is a little bit used to listen to this sweet language.

No doubt about it: music is THE universal language.

I can hardly find words to thank your devotion and time for sharing this.

Love

[EatNopales]

You are very welcome... knowing that people are enjoying the stuff keeps me motivated to keep adding more.

Saludos

[drki11joy123]

To the layman this probably sounds East Asian in origin, lol. Then again, we are from Asia, so. OT, this song is beautiful. And I love the meaningful lyrics. Too bad it's very hard to accurately translate the ideas Native languages convey, using English. Oh well.

[clamberti5]

Esta interpretacion es magnifica, tipico de Lila, una artista de verdad!!

[Buscator]

Estupenda canção...Hermosissimo interpretacion! Gracias, Lila Downs...um saludo desde Brasil!

[sabasgar]

Gracias Lila por recordarnos nuestra sangre. Nuestra Latinoamérica

[Danzkat77]

Simplemente hermosa canción, interpretada por una de las mejores voces de México... éstas son nuestras raices¡¡¡

[JC4crs]

@karo14mexico Correcion: Son Mexicanos en el extranjero. y los que si son extranjeros comentan porque QUIEREN ser Indios.

Imagen that!!!

-Saludos de un Californio [buscando una India pa'ser chilpayates :-) ]

[karo14mexico]

no puedo creeer que la mayoria de comentatios sean de extranjeros que les pasa mexicanos acaso no estan orgullosos de sus origenes

[dantAli14]

:D

[Broblem12]

'Tis lovely and well worth the listen. Thank you for sharing this gem.

[4ohfreight]

i love her voice and music!! i had the privilege of meeting her in san francisco a long time ago. she is more beautiful in person.

[4ohfreight]

@DianaVeronicaXuxu do you know what the cover art simbolizes??