Text & Translation
3. El majo discreto
Spanish source:
Fernando Periquet
Es posible que sí que lo sea,
que amor es deseo
que ciega y marea.
Ha tiempo que sé
que quien ama no ve.
Mas si no es mi majo un hombre
que por lindo descuelle y asombre,
en cambio es discreto
y guarda un secreto
que yo posé en él
sabiendo que es fiel.
¿Cuál es el secreto
que el majo guardó?
Sería indiscreto
contarlo yo.
No poco trabajo costara saber
secretos de un majo con una mujer.
Nació en Lavapiés.
¡Eh, ¡eh! ¡Es
un majo, un majo es!
The discreet majo
English translation ©
Lorena Paz Nieto
It’s possible that he is,
For love is a desire
That blinds and makes you dizzy.
Long have I known
That those who love do not see.
But if my majo is not a man
Who turns heads and dazzles with his looks,
Instead he is discreet
And he can keep a secret
That I entrusted to him
Knowing that he is faithful.
What is the secret
That the majo kept?
It would be indiscreet
For me to tell.
It would take no small effort to uncover
The secrets between a majo and a woman.
He was born in Lavapiés*
Hey, hey! He is
A majo - a true majo he is!
*Lavapiés is a historic and vibrant neighbourhood in central Madrid, known as a melting pot of cultures and with deep roots in Madrid’s working-class and artistic history.
3. El majo discreto
Spanish source:
Fernando Periquet
The discreet majo
English source:
Lorena Paz Nieto
Dicen que mi majo es feo.
They say that my majo is ugly.
Es posible que sí que lo sea,
It’s possible that he is,
que amor es deseo
For love is a desire
que ciega y marea.
That blinds and makes you dizzy.
Ha tiempo que sé
Long have I known
que quien ama no ve.
That those who love do not see.
Mas si no es mi majo un hombre
But if my majo is not a man
que por lindo descuelle y asombre,
Who turns heads and dazzles with his looks,
en cambio es discreto
Instead he is discreet
y guarda un secreto
And he can keep a secret
que yo posé en él
That I entrusted to him
sabiendo que es fiel.
Knowing that he is faithful.
¿Cuál es el secreto
What is the secret
que el majo guardó?
That the majo kept?
Sería indiscreto
It would be indiscreet
contarlo yo.
For me to tell.
No poco trabajo costara saber
It would take no small effort to uncover
secretos de un majo con una mujer.
The secrets between a majo and a woman.
Nació en Lavapiés.
He was born in Lavapiés*
¡Eh, ¡eh! ¡Es
Hey, hey! He is
un majo, un majo es!
A majo - a true majo he is!
Composer
Enrique Granados
Enrique Granados Campiña was a Spanish pianist and composer. Read more here.
Poet
Performances
Upcoming Performances
- Serenade 20 Oct 2026
Previously performed at:
- Goya & Granados 25 Oct 2023
- Oxford Lieder in Birmingham / Lorena Paz Nieto & Anna Tilbrook 07 Feb 2020