De Colores

"De Colores" (Of Colors) is a traditional folk song that is well known throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The song was brought to the Americas from Spain during the 16th century.^[1] In modern times, the song frequently appears in collections of children's songs. It is widely used in the Roman Catholic Cursillo movement and related communities such as the Great Banquet, Chrysalis Flight and Walk to Emmaus. It is also an unofficial anthem for the United Farm Workers union.

The words of the song are an expression of joy and a celebration of all creation with its many bright colors. The four verses listed below are the most commonly used.

Common song words

Spanish Version      De colores, de colores Se visten los campos en la primavera.      De colores, de colores Son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera.      De colores, de colores Es el arco iris que vemos lucir.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      De colores, de colores Brillantes y finos se viste la aurora.      De colores, de colores Son los mil reflejos que el sol atesora.      De colores, de colores Se viste el diamante que vemos lucir.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Canta el gallo, canta el gallo Con el quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri.      La gallina, la gallina Con el cara, cara, cara, cara, cara.      Los pollitos/polluelos, los pollitos/polluelos Con el pío, pío, pío, pío, pí.           Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Jubilosos, jubilosos Vivamos en gracia puesto que se puede.      Saciaremos, saciaremos La sed ardorosa del Rey que no muere.      Jubilosos, jubilosos Llevemos a Cristo un alma y mil más.      Difundiendo la luz que ilumina La gracia divina del gran ideal.      Difundiendo la luz que ilumina La gracia divina del gran ideal.

English Version      In colors, in colors The fields are dressed in the spring.      In colors, in colors Are the little birds that come from outside.      In colors, in colors Is the rainbow that we see shining.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.      In colors, in colors Brilliant and delicate is dressed the dawn.      In colors, in colors Are the thousand gleams the sun treasures.      In colors, in colors Is dressed the diamond we see shining.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors. The rooster sings, the rooster sings With a cock-a-doodle, cock-a-doodle-doo.      The hen, the hen With a cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.      The chicks, the chicks With a cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.      Joyous, joyous Let us live in grace since we can.      Let us quench, let us quench The burning thirst of the King who does not die.      Joyous, joyous Let us bring to Christ a soul and thousand more.      Spreading the light that illuminates The divine grace from the great ideal.      Spreading the light that illuminates The divine grace from the great ideal.

Dozens of other verses (and variations of these four) are known to exist. Some of these include either overt religious references or language associated with its use as a rallying-song for farm-laborers. There are several different English translations of the song in circulation, and the song has been translated into other languages.

Recordings

De Colores has been recorded by many different artists, including Los Lobos, Joan Baez, Raffi, Nana Mouskouri, Tish Hinojosa, Arlo Guthrie, José-Luis Orozco and Justo Lamas; as well as being referred to in the Flobots song "Handlebars"

In novels

The song De Colores is sung by Angicaro (a saintly character) in Alison Mackie's novel The Gypsy Chronicles. The power and grace De Colores moves through the bus like a wave, and it is not long before everyone, including an unsavory gang of thugs trying to cause trouble, are holding hands, singing and swaying in the tradition of De Colores, brought together in spirit by the song's powerful grace.

References

1. ^ Los Angeles Public Library