Oracion de las madres que tienen a sus hijos en brazos

 

  Manuel de Falla

Translation

Song of the mothers that hold their children in their arms

Sweet Jesus, you are sleeping!

by the holy breast that suckled you,

I pray that this my son not be a soldier!

They will take him away and he was my flesh!

They will kill him and he was my happiness!

When he’s dying he will say, “Mother of mine!”

And I will not know the hour nor the day.

 

About the Composer

Manuel de Falla ( November 23 ,1876 –  November 14, 1946) was a Spanish composer of  classical music. He was born in Cádiz. His early teacher in music was his mother; at the age of 9 he was introduced to his first piano professor. He met a number of composers who had an influence on his style, including Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy and Paul Dukas. He returned to Madrid at the beginning of World War 1.

 

About the song

 

This piece is an emotionally charged prayer out of desperation for a woman to keep one’s son safe and out of the military.