Palomo Del Comalito – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Lila Downs
• Album: Pecados y Milagros

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the rich cultural tapestry of Mexico through Lila Downs' 'Palomo del Comalito.' This song beautifully blends cumbia and rock to tell a story of resilience, faith, and the strength of women, offering a glimpse into Oaxacan traditions and the significance of everyday life.

[English]

The beauty, the charm of this land

Grind, mom, grind the corn dough

A miracle, a miracle from your hands

Oh, yellow, bright I saw

In the basket, in the basket it carries gold

Tender gold, tender gold of corn

In the basket, in the basket it carries gold

Tender gold, tender gold of corn

...

My suffering is over, it's over now

There is no evil, no evil that lasts a hundred years

Dove, little dove, fly and tell

That I drink, that I kiss here your hands

Dove, little dove, fly and tell

That I drink, that I kiss here your hands

...

Dove, little dove, sing a miracle

From the dough of the smoke of this griddle

You who drink, you who drank my tears

From grains, from grains, from crystal grains

Dove, little dove, sing a miracle

From the dough of the smoke of this griddle

You who drink, you who drank my tears

From grains, from grains, from crystal grains

...

And miracles, and miracles of this land

And women who feed with their hands

She who invites, she who invites even if she has nothing

And fights for the things that are good

She who invites, she who invites even if she has nothing

And fights for the things that are good

...

Dove, little dove, sing a miracle

From the dough of the smoke of this griddle

You who drink, you who drank my tears

From grains, from grains, from crystal grains

Dove, little dove, sing a miracle

From the dough of the smoke of this griddle

You who drink, you who drank my tears

From grains, from grains, from crystal grains

From grains, from grains, from crystal grains

From grains, from grains, from crystal grains

...

[Spanish]

La chula, la chulada de esta tierra

Muele ma, muele masa de maíz

Un mila, un milagro de sus manos

Amari, amarillo brillo ví

En tena, en tenate lleva de oro

De oro tier, de oro tierno de maíz

En tena, en tenate lleva de oro

De oro tier, de oro tierno de maíz

Ya acabó, ya acabó mi sufrimiento

Ya no hay mal, no hay mal que dure cien años

Palomi, Palomita vuela y dile

Que yo be, que yo beso aquí sus manos

Palomi, palomita vuela y dile

Que yo be, que yo beso aquí sus manos

Palomi, palomita canta un milagro

De la masa del humo de este comal

Tú que be, tú que bebiste mis lágrimas

De gra, de gra, de granitos de cristal

Palomi, palomita canta un milagro

De la masa del humo de este comal

Tú que be, tú que bebiste mis lágrimas

De gra, de gra, de granitos de cristal

Y milagros, y milagros de esta tierra

Y mujeres que sus manos alimentan

La que invi, la que invita aunque nada tenga

Y pelea por las cosas que si son buenas

La que invi, la que invita aunque nada tenga

Y pelea por las cosas que si son buenas

Palomi, palomita canta un milagro

De la masa del humo de este comal

Tú que be, tú que bebiste mis lágrimas

De gra, de gra, de granitos de cristal

Palomi, palomita canta un milagro

De la masa del humo de este comal

Tú que be, tú que bebiste mis lágrimas

De gra, de gra, de granitos de cristal

De gra, de gra, de granitos de cristal

De gra, de gra, de granitos de cristal

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
muele /ˈmwele/ A2	verb - to grind
masa /ˈmasa/ A2	noun - dough, mixture of ground maize
milagro /miˈlaɣro/ B1	noun - miracle
comal /koˈmal/ B1	noun - griddle used in Mexican cooking
milagros /miˈlaɣɾos/ B2	noun - miracles (plural)
cristal /kɾisˈtal/ B2	noun - crystal, glass
bebe /beˈβe/ A2	verb - to drink
lágrimas /ˈlaɣɾimas/ B1	noun - tears
pelea /ˈpe.le.a/ A2	verb - to fight
alimentan /a.li.meˈtan/ B1	verb - to feed, to nourish
invita /inˈvi.ta/ A2	verb - to invite

Key Grammar Structures

• La chula, la chulada de esta tierra

  ➔ Noun phrase with definite article and adjective.

  ➔ The phrase "la chulada" uses the definite article "la" to specify a particular quality of the land.

• Ya acabó, ya acabó mi sufrimiento

  ➔ Past tense verb form.

  ➔ The verb "acabó" is in the past tense, indicating that the suffering has ended.

• Palomi, palomita vuela y dile

  ➔ Imperative mood for commands.

  ➔ The verbs "vuela" and "dile" are in the imperative mood, giving commands to the dove.

• Tú que be, tú que bebiste mis lágrimas

  ➔ Relative clause.

  ➔ The phrase "Tú que be" introduces a relative clause that describes the subject.

• Y milagros, y milagros de esta tierra

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis.

  ➔ The repetition of "milagros" emphasizes the importance of miracles in the context of the land.

• Y pelea por las cosas que si son buenas

  ➔ Subjunctive mood in relative clauses.

  ➔ The phrase "que si son buenas" uses the subjunctive mood to express a desire for good things.

• De gra, de gra, de granitos de cristal

  ➔ Use of diminutives.

  ➔ The word "granitos" is a diminutive form, indicating small grains, which adds a sense of delicacy.