"Boda Negra" (1919)
"Boda Negra" is a macabre song that is suggestive of necrophilia. Unlike other boleros, it features several verses, since the poem itself was much longer than the usual song of the time. This variance makes it an outlier at the periphery of bolero, but it is significant in that it is Villalón's most enduring and recognizable composition.
First Recording
The first documented recording was made in New York on Victor records in 1919, with Villalón on guitar, and the vocal duo, Floro y Miguel (Miguel Zaballa, baritone and Floro Zorilla, tenor). Villalón is listed as the lyricist. The Villalón recording is available here through the Biblioteca Nacional de España's digital archive. Click "Cara B" to listen.
While the Biblioteca Nacional archive lists the date tentatively as "1926?" it is likely that this is is the 1919 recording referenced in the UCSB archive since it lists the same performers and Victor as the record label. This is the earliest available recording of the song with Villalón himself on guitar.
Lyrics and Translation
| Oye la historia que contóme[1] un día El viejo enterrador de la comarca[2], Era un amante que por suerte impía Su dulce bien le arrebató la parca. Todas las noches iba al cementerio A visitar la tumba de su hermosa La gente murmuraba con misterio: Es un muerto ecapado de la fosa En una horrenda noche hizo pedazos El mármol de la tumba abandonada, Cavó la tierra y se llevó en los brazos El rigido esqueleto de su amada Y allá en la triste habitación sombría De un cirio fúnebre a la llama incierta Sentó a su lado la osamenta fría Y celebró sus bodas con la muerta. Ató con Cintas los desnudos huesos, El yerto cráneo coronó de flores, La horrible boca la cubrió de besos Y le contó sonriendo sus amores. Llevó a la novia al tálamo mullido, Se acostó junto a ella enamorado Y para siempre se quedó dormido Al esqueleto rígido abarazado | Listen to a story that was told to me one day The old gravedigger of the region He was a lover that by chance (atheist, did not respect the sacred) His sweet ___ violently took away her death? Every night he would go to the cemetery To visit the tomb of his beauty The people murmured with [mysterious curiosity?] It’s a dead person escaped from the grave In one horrible night he made into pieces The marble of the abandoned tomb He dug out the dirt and took in his arms The rigid skeleton of his lover And there in the sad, somber bedroom From a [funeral candle] to the [uncertain call?] Sat next to it the cold skeleton And celebrated [her? His?] love with the departed With ropes he tied the naked bones The ____ cranium he coronated with flowers The horrible mouth, he covered with kisses And smiling, he [recounted] his love He took his bride to the fluffy marriage bed And laid next to her, in love And remained sleeping forever Hugging the rigid skeleton |
Later Recordings
In Cuba, the song was recorded by Maria Teresa Vera, and later the Hermanas Martí.
In the United States in 1928, it was recorded by the Tejana singer-songwriter, Lydia Mendoza.
In Mexico, the most popular version is by Ana Gabriel.
[1] Archaic conjugation of the verb “contar”
[2] Archaic. Name for a Spanish or Portuguese large administrative region/district.
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