Latcho Drom, La Caíta, "El pájaro negro" Tony Gatlif

Closing scene of Tony Gatlif's stunning film, Latcho Drom (Safe journey in Romany), following the journey, music and culture of the Roma from their genesis in India to many of the countries through which they passed.

La Caíta, is standing on a hillside overlooking new housing, a place where she will probably never live. She sings a heartbreaking song, The Blackbird, that will resonate with the poor, the disenfranchised, the persecuted, or anyone who has been on the outside looking in. ¡Qué tristeza!

¡Opré Roma!

Director and lyrics: Tony Gatlif

El pájaro negro Lyrics by Tony Gatlif

You, you're a stork
Who has landed on Earth.
Me, I'm a black bird who has taken flight.

Why does your wicked mouth spit on me?
What harm is it to you
That my skin is dark...
And my hair gypsy black? (2X)

From Isabelle the Catholic...
From Hitler to Franco...
We have been the victims
of their wars.

Some evenings, some evenings
Like many other evenings...
Some evenings I find myself envying...
The respect that you give to your dog.

Why does your wicked mouth spit on me?
What harm is it to you
That my skin is dark...
And my hair gypsy black? (2X)

Spanish lyrics:

Ay, tú eres una cigüeña
que rozó la tierra.
Yo soy un pájaro negro
caido en ella.

¿Por qué me escupes en la cara?
Qué más te podía hacer ser yo
que por ser morena y gitana?

Que más remedio compañera
que por ser morena y gitana?

Desde Isabela La Católica
Desde Hitler hasta Franco
fueron víctimas
de sus guerras
toitos los gitanos.

Algunas noches
Algunas noches
como otras noches
me muero de envidia
viendo como acaricias
a tu perro.