21. The Radio
Radio play

The above photograph of a cadre of Radio Madrid actors comes from the website, "El Desván de Rafael Castillejo," (Rafael Castillejo's Attic) which is an excellent source of Spanish memorabilia from the same historical period as my webpage's and beyond. Radio theater, comedy like Maginet Pelacañas (Radio Sounds Library 16.9) or children's stories like Garbancito (Radio Sounds Library 12.3) were the entertainment venue of most homes.

Some popular children's songs were:
Listen-to-this icon   ¿Donde Están Las Llaves? (Where Are the Keys?)

Listen-to-this icon   Mambrú Se Fué A La Guerra (Mambrú Went To War)

Listen-to-this icon   Mi Vaca Lechera (My Dairy Cow)

Listen-to-this icon   Pececito Del Mar (Small Fish of the Sea)

Listen-to-this icon   ¡Qué Feliz Es El Pez En El Agua! (How Happy Is A Fish In the Water!)

Listen-to-this icon   Vamos A Contar Mentiras (We Are Going To Tell Lies)

However my two favourite songs were "Camino Verde" (Green Trail) and "Navidad" (Christmas).

Camino Verde (Green Trail)

I remember singing "Camino Verde" to visiting friends of my parents when I was quite small. The song was written by Basque composer Carmelo Larrea.

Hoy he vuelto a pasar por aquel camino verde
Que por el valle se pierde con mi triste soledad.
Hoy he vuelto a rezar a la puerta de la ermita
Y pedí a tu virgencita que yo te vuelva a encontrar.

Por el camino verde, camino verde, que va a la ermita,
Desde que tú te fuiste lloran de pena las margaritas.
La fuente se ha secado, las azucenas están marchitas
En el camino verde, camino verde que va a la ermita.

Hoy he vuelto a pasar por aquel camino verde
Y en el recuerdo se pierde toda mi felicidad.
Hoy he vuelto a grabar nuestros nombres en la encina,
He subido a la colina y allí me he puesto a llorar.

Por el camino verde, camino verde, que va a la ermita,
Desde que tú te fuiste lloran de pena las margaritas.
La fuente se ha secado, las azucenas están marchitas
En el camino verde, camino verde que va a la ermita.

Camino, camino verde.

Today I have trodden again that green path through the valley
That vanishes in the distance with my sad loneliness.
Today I have prayed once more at the hermitage's door
And petitioned your cherished Lady to meet you again.

By the green green path that goes to the hermitage
Weep the daisies in sorrow since you departed.
The fountain has dried up, the Madonna lilies are withered
On the green green path that goes to the hermitage.

Today I have trodden again that green path,
And in the remembrance vanishes all my happiness.
Today I have carved once more our names on the holm oak,
Headed up the hill and there started to cry.

By the green green path that goes to the hermitage
Weep the daisies in sorrow since you departed.
The fountain has dried up, the Madonna lilies are withered
On the green green path that goes to the hermitage.

Trail—green trail.
Listen-to-this icon   Angelillo (Spain, 1954)

Listen-to-this icon   Gregorio Barrios (Spain)

Listen-to-this icon   Los Panchos (Mexico and Puerto Rico)

Listen-to-this icon   Víctor Hugo Ayala (Colombia)

Listen-to-this icon   Diana Navarro (Spain, 2008)

Navidad (Christmas)

The origin of this song is obscure. Basque composer Carmelo Larrea wrote many songs for Cuban singer Antonio Machín. Although Machín is usually credited with being the author of this carol, its melancholy tone, similar to Camino Verde's, suggests that Larrea had some say in the lyrics. Still others dispute their authorship. The song has a decidedly un-Spanish feel, even its first word, "Campanitas," suggests sleigh bells rather than church bells, the traditional Spanish motif. Both Machín and Larrea were familiar with American carols, having lived in the United States for some time.

Campanitas que vais repicando,
"Navidad" vais alegres cantando
Y a mí llegan los dulces recuerdos
Del hogar bendito donde me crié...
Y aquella viejita que tanto adoré,
Mi madre del alma que no olvidaré.

Navidad que con dulce cantar
Te celebran las almas que saben amar:
Oh, qué triste es andar en la vida
Por senda perdida lejos del hogar
Sin oír una voz cariñosa
Que diga amorosa—Llegó Navidad—

Sleigh bells that pass jingling, jingling,
"Christmas" go ye merrily singing,
And to my mind come the sweet memories
Of the blessed home where I was raised...
And that dear old lady I adored so,
My precious mother whom I won't forget.

Holidays which with sweet song
Observe the souls that know how to love:
O how sad it's wandering through life
On misguided path far away from home
Without hearing a tender voice
Fondly say, "Christmas has arrived!"
Listen-to-this icon   El Consorcio (Spain)

Listen-to-this icon   Antonio Machín (Cuba)

Listen-to-this icon   Julio Jaramillo (Ecuador)

Listen-to-this icon   Los Hermanos Mendoza (El Salvador)
Ferrol's New England Theater (1906-1914)