El Cielito Lindo no es El Frito Bandito

Looking, back as a child of the 1960s, you would probably not have cringed at the cultural stereotype represented by "The Frito Bandito" TV commercial of the day, which can probably be found on YouTube or archive.org (where thousands of early TV commercials have been uploaded)

Just a snippet, "Ay, ay, ay, ay....I am the Frito Bandito, I love Frito's Cornchips" . . .etc.

We're going to talk about the song from which The Frito Bandito was derived, "El Cielito Lindo", which is really quite beautiful, just like the Mexican skies.

The lyrics

Lovely Sky

From the Sierra Morena

Lovely sky, come down,

A pair of dark eyes,

Lovely sky, of smuggling.

Ay, ay, ay, ay,

Sing and don't cry,

Because singing, they brighten up,

Lovely sky, the hearts.

Bird, that deserts,

Lovely sky, it's first nest,

If it founds it (the nest) taken,

Lovely sky, well deserved.

That beauty spot that you have,

Lovely sky, next to the mouth,

Don't give it to anyone else,

Lovely sky, because it touches me.

If your moraine mouth,

Was made out of sugar,

I would spend my time,

Lovely sky, absorbing it.

From your house to the mine,

Lovely sky, there's no more than a step,

Before your mother comes,

Lovely sky, give me a hug.

An arrow in the air,

Lovely sky, Cupid has launched it,

An arrow in the air,

Lovely sky, that has struck me.