De Colores

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

De Colores 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. In modern times, the song is widely used in the Cursillo movement, is an unofficial anthem for the United Farm Workers union, and frequently appears in collections of children's songs.

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.

De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la primavera

De colores, de colores son los pajaritos que vienen de fuera
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

Canta el gallo, canta el gallo con el kiri kiri kiri kiri kiri
La gallina, la gallina con el cara cara cara cara cara
Los pollitos, los pollitos con el pío 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

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

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

Colorful, colorful are the fields in the springtime

Colorful, colorful are the little birds that come from far away
Colorful, colorful is the rainbow that we see shining
And that is why I like wonderful colorful things
And that is why I like wonderful colorful things

The rooster sings, the rooster with a kiri kiri quiri kiri kiri
The hen sings, the hen with a cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck
The babe-chicks, the babe-chicks with a peo peo peo peo pi
And that is why I like wonderful colorful things
And that is why I like wonderful colorful things

Colorful, the dawn has brilliant and delicate colors
Colorful, colorful are the thousand gleams that the sun stores
Colorful, colorful are the diamonds that we see shining
And that is why I like wonderful colorful things
And that is why I like wonderful colorful things

Joyous, joyous may we live in the grace of He who wills it
May we quench the burning thirst of the King that does not die
Joyous, joyous we shall bring to Christ a harvest of souls
Spread the illumination of the divine grace from the great ideal
Spread the illumination of 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 have been numerous translations of the song into English and other languages. De Colores has been recorded by many different artists, including Los Lobos, Joan Baez, Raffi, Nana Mouskouri, Tish Hinojosa, and Arlo Guthrie.

Reference to De Colores is made in The Flobots song Handlebars from their second album Fight With Tools