Text & Translation
5. El majo tímido
Spanish source:
Fernando Periquet
por la noche un majo
que, en cuanto me ve y suspira,
se va calle abajo.
¡Ay qué tío más tardío!
¡Si así se pasa la vida estoy
divertida!
Otra vez pasa y se alejo
y no se entusiasma
y bajito yo le digo
¡Adiós Don Fantasma!
¡Ay que tío más tardío!
Si así se pasa la vida
estoy divertida.
The timid majo
English translation ©
Lorena Paz Nieto
At night, a majo*
Who, as soon as he sees me and sighs,
Goes down the road.
Oh what a slowpoke!
If he spends his life like this
I am amused!
Again he passes by and leaves
And isn’t enthused
And softly I tell him
Goodbye Don Fantasma!
Oh what a slowpoke!
If he spends his life like this
I am amused!
*in the 18th and 19th centuries, the term majo or maja was associated with a person from the working-class districts of Madrid, characterised by their air of freedom and bravado, in turn reflected in their bearing, actions, and appearance.
5. El majo tímido
Spanish source:
Fernando Periquet
The timid majo
English source:
Lorena Paz Nieto
Llega a mi reja y me mira
He arrives at my fence and looks at me
por la noche un majo
At night, a majo*
que, en cuanto me ve y suspira,
Who, as soon as he sees me and sighs,
se va calle abajo.
Goes down the road.
¡Ay qué tío más tardío!
Oh what a slowpoke!
¡Si así se pasa la vida estoy
If he spends his life like this
divertida!
I am amused!
Otra vez pasa y se alejo
Again he passes by and leaves
y no se entusiasma
And isn’t enthused
y bajito yo le digo
And softly I tell him
¡Adiós Don Fantasma!
Goodbye Don Fantasma!
¡Ay que tío más tardío!
Oh what a slowpoke!
Si así se pasa la vida
If he spends his life like this
estoy divertida.
I am amused!
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