El pastor – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Miguel Aceves Mejía

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the pastoral beauty of Mexico with Miguel Aceves Mejía's "El Pastor." This song offers a glimpse into the tranquil life of a shepherd, using the enchanting melodies of a flute to express a range of human emotions. Learn about the cultural significance of Ranchera music and the extraordinary vocal artistry of Miguel Aceves Mejía, particularly his famed falsetto, which makes this song a truly special experience.

[English]

Oh, oh, uah

Oh, ah, ah

Let's see, little shepherd

Take good care of the little sheep

...

The shepherd goes with his flock

At dawn's first light

Down the trail

From the mountain to the pasture

...

He hums his complaints

With his reed flute

Followed by his sheep

As if under a spell

...

The shepherd's flute

Oh, oh, oh, it sings like this

Ah, ah

Oh, oh, uah

...

The shepherd is on his way back

For the sun is setting

Climbing up the hill

To watch over his flock

With his flute, he calls

One by one, his sheep

And he lets them know

His voices and his sorrows

...

The shepherd's flute

Oh, oh, oh, it sings like this

...

[Spanish]

Oh, oh, uah

Oh, ah, ah

A ver pastorcito

Cuida bien las borregas

Va el pastor con su rebaño

Al despuntar la mañana

Bajando por el sendero

De la sierra a la pradera

Va musitando sus quejas

Con su flautín de carrizo

Seguido por sus ovejas

Como si fuera un hechizo

El flautín del pastor

Ay, ay, ay, canta así

Ah, ah

Oh oh, uah

El pastor ya va de vuelta

Pues el sol se está ocultando

Va subiendo por la cuesta

Para guardar su rebaño

Con su flautín va llamando

Una a una a sus ovejas

Y les va comunicando

Sus voces y sus tristezas

El flautín del pastor

Ay, ay, ay, canta así

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pastor /pasˈtoɾ/ A2	noun - shepherd
rebaño /reβaˈɲo/ B1	noun - flock of sheep
mañana /maˈɲa.na/ A2	noun - morning
sendero /senˈdeɾo/ B1	noun - path, trail
cantar /kanˈtaɾ/ A2	verb - to sing
flauta /ˈflau.ta/ B1	noun - flute
hechizo /eˈtʃi.so/ B2	noun - spell, charm
sol /sol/ A1	noun - sun
cuesta /ˈkwe.sta/ B1	noun - hill, slope
voces /ˈbo.θes/ A2	noun - voices
tristezas /tɾisˈtes.as/ B2	noun - sadnesses, sorrows

Key Grammar Structures

• Va el pastor con su rebaño

  ➔ Use of the verb "va" with a definite article and noun to indicate movement or going somewhere.

  ➔ "Va" is the third person singular form of "ir" (to go).

• Cuida bien las borregas

  ➔ Use of the verb "cuida" (care) with an adverb "bien" to imply proper care.

  ➔ "Cuida" is the third person singular form of "cuidar" (to care).

• Seguido por sus ovejas

  ➔ Use of the preposition "por" to indicate "followed by" or "next to".

  ➔ "Por" indicates the agent or means in passive constructions or following direct objects.

• Con su flautín va llamando

  ➔ Use of "con" + noun phrase to indicate means of action; "va llamando" as continuing action with present progressive.

  ➔ "Con" is a preposition meaning "with", indicating means or accompaniment.

• Y les va comunicando sus voces y sus tristezas

  ➔ Use of "les" as indirect object pronoun; "va comunicando" as ongoing action; "sus" as possessive pronoun.

  ➔ "Les" is the indirect object pronoun for "them"; "va comunicando" is the present progressive of "comunicar" (to communicate).