I don't know what's wrong with the flowers, llorona,
the flowers in the graveyard.
because when the wind moves them, llorona,
it looks as if they are crying.
Alas for me, llorona, llorona,
llorona, take me to the river.
And cover me with your shawl, llorona,
for I am dying of cold.
Two kisses I bear in my soul, llorona,
that never leave me….
the last one from my mother, llorona,
and the first one I gave you….
--Mexican folk song. "Llorona" means a weeping woman. There are many legends of La Llorona, but the one I prefer is that she is Malinche, the clever young Indian woman who helped Cortez conquer Mexico. Malinche
was a real person, enslaved by the Aztecs. Cortez called her Doña
Marina. She later had a son with Cortez and he provided for her, but
she died young. Because she helped the Spaniards conquer Mexico, she is
said to wander through the land weeping. These are just some of the many verses of the song.
No sé que tienen las flores, llorona,
las flores del camposanto
que cuando las mueve el viento, llorona,
parece que están llorando.
Ay de mí, llorona, llorona,
llorona, llévame al rió....
y tápame con tu rebozo, llorona,
porque me muero de frió.
Dos besos llevo en el alma, llorona,
que no se apartan de mí….
el último de mi madre, llorona,
y el primero que te dí….