Los Paraguayos - Adelita

“La Adelita“ is one of the most famous corridos (folk songs) to come out of the Mexican Revolution. It is the story of a young woman in love with a sergeant who travels with him and his regiment. The song is supposed to be based on a real-life character, the identity of whom, however, has not been yet established beyond doubt. Some claim her real name was Altagracia Martínez, also known as Marieta Martínez, while others maintain she was, in fact, Adela Velarde, who actually took part in military action in the capacity of nurse, not out of infatuation with a sergeant, as a popular myth goes. “La Adelita“ came to be an archetype of a woman warrior in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. An Adelita was a soldadera, or woman soldier, who not only cooked and cared for the wounded but also actually fought in battles against Mexican government forces. In time the word adelita was used for all the soldaderas, who became a vital force in the revolutionary war efforts. The term La Adelita has since come to signify a woman of strength and courage. The 20-year old police chief of Práxedis G. Guerrero, Marisol Valles Garcia, has been affectionately nicknamed ’La Adelita’. She was reportedly the only one brave enough to accept the position, after the previous chief was gunned down by a drug cartel. The music of “La Adelita“ was adapted (without greater changes as a main theme of whole picture) by Isaak Osipovich Dunayevsky, who wrote the songs for one of the best known soviet comedies Jolly Fellows (1934 film) (Russian: Весёлые ребята Vesyolye rebyata). The soviet composer never mentioned the origins of his song. Χωρίς τις γυναίκες αυτές δεν θα μπορούσε να υπάρξει Μεξικανική Επανάσταση» γράφουν οι μελετητές της περιόδου. Πρόκειται κατά κύριο λόγο για γυναίκες Ινδιάνικης καταγωγής από την επαρχία, οι οποίες πολέμησαν στο πλευρό των ανδρών, χωρίς να παραμελούν την ίδια στιγμή τα οικιακά καθήκοντά τους. Οπλισμένες μέχρι τα δόντια, μετακινούμενες είτε με τα πόδια είτε με άλογα ή ακόμα και στις σκεπές των τρένων, οι γυναίκες αυτές εντάχθηκαν ήδη από την αρχή στο πλευρό των επαναστατών. Κάποιες από αυτές, μάλιστα, όπως οι Maria Pistola και Petra Ruiz, έμειναν στην ιστορία.... On the heights of an abrupt ridge, Where a regiment was camping, A valiant young girl followed it Because she was in love with a sergeant. Favorite among the troops was Adelita, The woman idolized by the sergeant, Because besides being brave she was pretty, And even the Colonel respected her. And it is related that he said how much he loved her: If Adelita were to go with another, He would follow her tracks without rest; If by sea, in a war boat, If by land, in a military train. Yes, Adelita must be my wife, Yes, Adelita must be my woman, Adelita, Adelita of my soul, Adelita of my heart. If Adelita wished to be my wife, If Adelita were my woman, I would buy her a silk dress, To take her to dance at the barracks. Adelita, for God’s sake I beg you To calm the fire of this my passion, Because I adore you and love you devotedly And for you my faithful heart suffers. Here the first verse is repeated, which is the refrain. The bugle of battle calls out to war, The brave knight leaves to fight, Streams of blood shall flow, Let no tyrant ever govern! And if perchance I die in battle And my body remains in the Sierra, Addelita, for God’s sake I beg you, To weep for me with your eyes.