Spanish Civil War song, based on an
harmonization of the folk song “Los Cuatro Muleros” of
Federico García Lorca. It is one of the most well known
antifascist songs from the civil war and it makes reference of the four generals that conducted the rebellion against the democratically elected Republic:
Franco, Mola, Varela and Queipo de Llano.
It is also know as the “Coplas de la Defensa de Madrid” because it explains the successive and unsuccessful rebel intents of entering Madrid, that was defended by the voluntaries of the 5th Regiment and the Brigadas Internacionales (such as the American Abraham Lincoln Brigade)
Charlie Haden did a free jazz version with the Liberation Music Orchestra.
Some keys to the English translation below: “Mamita mía” -> should be obvious, but it’s like shouting “Mummy!” ; “Bridge of the French”-> bridge in Madrid, named after the 1808 –1814 war against the French; “milicianos”-> popular militia; “Casa de Campo”-> Madrid park; “Manzanares”-> Madrid river; "the moors"-> Franco was general in the Spanish morocco and his personal guard were from there.
Los Cuatro Generales
Los cuatro generales
Mamita mía
Que se han alzado
Para la Nochebuena
Mamita mía
Serán ahorcados
Puente de los Franceses
Mamita mía
Nadie te pasa
Porque tus milicianos
Mamita mía
Que bien te guardan
Por la Casa de Campo
Mamita mía
Y el Manzanares
Quieren pasar los moros
Mamita mía
No pasa nadie
Madrid que bien resistes
Mamita mía
Los bombardeos
De las bombas se ríen
Mamita mía
Los madrileños
Translation:
The four generals
Mamita mía
They have raised
By Christmas Eve
Mamita mía
They will be hung
Bridge of the French
Mamita mía
Nobody cross you
Because your milicianos
Mamita mía
They will keep you well
By the Casa de Campo
Mamita mía
and the Manzanares
The moors want to pass
Mamita mía
Nobody passes
Madrid, you resist so well
Mamita mía
the bombings
They laugh of the bombs
Mamita mía
The people from Madrid