Canastera | The Weekly Letra
Canastera
Antonio Sánchez
Arbolea
tú eres el aire
que a mí me lleva
Flamenquita, tú que haces
tus canastitas en los puentes
siendo tan guapa y graciosa
¿por qué vives malamente?
Canastera canastera canastera
Has de ser mi compañera
si me casara algún día
has de ser mi compañera
por tos los cuatros costaos
gitanita y canastera
Canastera canastera canastera
Mi mare me pegó un día
y de mi casa me fui
y a la pobre mare mía
cuanto le hice que sufrir
Canastera canastera canastera
In my research I learned that the canastera form was debuted by Camarón and Paco de Lucía in 1972. (You can hear the original version with Paco de Lucía and Camarón here.) Here are a couple of links where you can find some detailed information about that: One link about this palo, and another link.
Here is Camarón accompanied by Tomatito, Juan Carmona, Jorge Pardo, and Carles Benavent.
A breeze blows
you are the air
that carries me
Flamenquita who makes
your baskets on the bridge
so beautiful and funny
why do you live badly?
basket weaver* ...
You have to be my companion
if I am to marry someday
You have to be my companion
through and through
gypsy and basket weaver*
basket weaver* ...
My mom hit me one day
and I left my home
and my poor mom
how I caused her to suffer
basket weaver* ...
*A note : Canastera signifies much more than the literal translation of basket weaver used above. It specifically refers to a Romani woman in Spain. Canasteros traveled following work. This thread offers some more information about the meaning.
More Translation Notes:
It took me awhile to find the correct words to this song, mainly the first word. After much searching I believe I finally figured it out. I found the meaning to arbolea here. It doesn't specify in the song what is blowing, but we can infer that it is the air or the wind. The literal translation, 'it blows' did not sound good, so I debated between using 'the air blows,' 'the (a) wind blows,' or 'the (a) breeze blows.' I chose the latter. If you have any comments about this or anything else, let me know below.
UPDATE:
Listen to and watch María Terremoto sing this here.
Listen to and watch Fernando Terremoto sing it here.
Watch Emilio Ochando dance to this here.