De Colores

"De colores" ([Made] of Colors) is a traditional Spanish language folk song that is well known throughout the Spanish-speaking world. It is widely used as a song in the Roman Catholic Cursillo movement and related communities such as the Great Banquet, Chrysalis Flight, Tres Dias and Walk to Emmaus. It is also associated with the United Farm Workers union, as one of the most commonly heard songs sung during rallies.^[1]

History and origins of the song

The song is associated with Mexican folklore, but it is not known for certain when and where the song originated.^[2][3] It is believed to have been in circulation throughout the Americas since the 16th century, with melodies being brought over from Spain during the colonial era. Some versions of the lyrics sung today are widely understood to have been created by a group of Cursillo participants in Majorca, Spain, after one of the earliest Cursillo retreats in the 1940s.^[4][5]

Today, in addition to being used as the unofficial anthem of the Farm Worker Movement and as an inspirational song in Cursillo workshops, the song is often taught in schools in the United States—from elementary school to community colleges—as an example of a common Mexican folk song.^[6][7][8] It frequently appears in collections of children's songs.

Common song words

De colores is typically sung in Spanish, but there are different English translations of the song in circulation, and the song has been translated into other languages. The lyrics depict an expression of joy and a celebration of all creation with its many bright colors. Below are four of the most commonly heard verses. Many additional verses (and variations of these verses) are known to exist, some including Christian references and some including more specific to farm life or labor union issues to be used as a rallying-song for farm-laborers.

Spanish Version:      De colores, de colores Se visten los campos en la primavera.      De colores, de colores Son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera.      De colores, de colores Es el arco iris que vemos lucir.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      De colores, de colores Brillantes y finos se viste la aurora.      De colores, de colores Son los mil reflejos que el sol atesora.      De colores, de colores Se viste el diamante que vemos lucir.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Canta el gallo, canta el gallo Con el quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri, quiri.      La gallina, la gallina Con el cara, cara, cara, cara, cara.      Los pollitos/polluelos, los pollitos/polluelos Con el pío, pío, pío, pío, pí.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Jubilosos, jubilosos Vivamos en gracia puesto que se puede.      Saciaremos, saciaremos La sed ardorosa del Rey que no muere.      Jubilosos, jubilosos Llevemos a Cristo un alma y mil más.      Difundiendo la luz que ilumina La gracia divina del gran ideal.      Difundiendo la luz que ilumina La gracia divina del gran ideal.      De colores, de colores Sí, de blanco y negro y rojo y azul y castaño.      Son colores, son colores De gente que ríe, y estrecha la mano.      Son colores, son colores De gente que sabe de la libertad.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.      Y por eso los grandes amores De muchos colores me gustan a mí.

English Version      In colors, in colors The fields are dressed in the spring.      In colors, in colors Are the little birds that come from outside.      In colors, in colors Is the rainbow that we see shining.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.      In colors, in colors Brilliant and delicate is dressed the dawn.      In colors, in colors Are the thousand gleams the sun treasures.      In colors, in colors Is dressed the diamond we see shining.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors. The rooster sings, the rooster sings With a cock-a-doodle, cock-a-doodle-doo.      The hen, the hen With a cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck.      The chicks, the chicks With a cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.      Joyous, joyous Let us live in grace since we can.      Let us quench, let us quench The burning thirst of the King who does not die.      Joyous, joyous Let us bring to Christ a soul and thousand more.      Spreading the light that illuminates The divine grace from the great ideal.      Spreading the light that illuminates The divine grace from the great ideal.      In colors, in colors Yes, black and white and red and blue and brown.      All the colors, colors From people laughing, and shaking hands.      All the colors, colors From people who know freedom.      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors      And that is why I love The great loves of many colors.

Recordings

De colores has been recorded by many different artists, including Los Lobos, Joan Baez, Raffi, Nana Mouskouri, Tish Hinojosa, Arlo Guthrie, José-Luis Orozco, Lucky Diaz, Justo Lamas, Baldemar Velasquez, Tara Strong, Rachael Cantu, Pete Seeger, and Tao Rodríguez-Seeger; and has been referenced in the Flobots song "Handlebars".

In novels

In Alison Mackie's novel The Gypsy Chronicles, the saintly character Angicaro sings "De colores" on a bus. The power and grace of "De colores" moves through the bus like a wave, and it is not long before everyone, including an unsavory gang of thugs trying to cause trouble, are holding hands, singing and swaying in the tradition of "De Colores", brought together in spirit by the song's powerful grace.

References

1. Azcona, Stevan (2008). Movements in Chicano Music: Performing Culture, Performing Politics, 1965-1979 (Ph.D.). University of Texas at Austin. pp. 108–109. ISBN 9780549738862.
2. Serge Séguin (Feb 23, 2012). "Cursillo Movement FAQ: What is the origin of "De Colores"?". French Speaking Cursillo Movement of Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
3. Kidd, Allison. "Union Access to Migrant Farmworkers: The Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Cucumber Farmers, and Farmworkers". The Labor Lawyer 20 (3 (Winter/Spring 2005)): 339–361.
4. Azcona, Stevan (2008). Movements in Chicano Music: Performing Culture, Performing Politics, 1965-1979 (Ph.D.). University of Texas at Austin. pp. 108–109. ISBN 054973886X.
5. Commentary on De Colores by Kathy Murguía and Abby Rivera (PDF) (Media notes). Terry Scott. Farmworker Movement Documentation Project. 2004. p. 6. id.
6. McGuire, Kenneth. "Common Songs of the Cultural Heritage of the United States: A Compilation of Songs That Most People "Know" and "Should Know"". Journal of Research in Music Education 48 (4 (Winter 2000)): 310–322. doi:10.2307/3345366.
7. Lum, Chee-Hoo; Shehan Campbell, Patricia. "The Sonic Surrounds of an Elementary School". Journal of Research in Music Education 55 (1 (Spring 2007)): 31–47. doi:10.1177/002242940705500104.
8. Trapp, Elizabeth. "Break down Inhibitions and Build up Understanding with Music, Music, Music". Hispania 74 (2 (May 1991)): 437–438. doi:10.2307/344857.