Un Grupo de Mexicali - El Burro Sabio (The Wise Burro)

 In the early 1500's, Spanish conquistadors, missionaries, and explorers brought burros to Mexico (called New Spain at the time) from the deserts of North Africa as well as the Arabian Peninsula. They are descendant from the African wild ass and were first domesticated in North Africa and The Middle East. The animals proved to be of valuable use in Mexico as pack animals used in mining and hauling goods over rough terrain and mountains. Although the animal has been largely replaced by modern mechanization, small landowners and farmers still rely on it.  Agave growers, the crop used  to make the liquor tequila, utilize burros in their fields. Producers say they do less damage than machines to the rows of agave plants. Coffee growers in hard  to reach areas use burros as they can navigate the rough terrain better than trucks.

The burrow remains a deeply embedded icon of Mexican culture. It has come to represent hard work, humility, strength, and the rural life, although it also has a reputation among some as being stubborn and stupid. But that is not really the case. They are intelligent, and what is mistaken for stubbornness can be a sign of their intelligence when they refuse to do something because they may perceive a danger, or recognize that they are overheated and tired and need to rest. 

In this song by Un Grupo de Mexicali,  the man who owns the burro is outwitted by the burro, and the burro freely admits that he is the one in charge, not the owner! The song's verses are first sung in Spanish, then English translation. The group sent us the sound file for publication, as they still refuse to enter the United States, despite having all the current paperwork and visas up to date. They are very suspicious of the current U.S government's position on immigration and foreign visitors. 

Mi patrón un hombre terco
Siempre quiere mandar
Yo un burrito listo
Sé cómo lo puedo engañar
 
Él me jala la rienda
Piensa que soy lento
Pero mi cerebro piensa
Más allá del momento
 
Ay ay ay mi burrito
Qué astuto animal
Ay ay ay mi burrito
Siempre salgo triunfal
 
My master, a stubborn man
Tries to be in command
I'm a clever little burro
I can out trick any man
 
He pulls on the reins
He thinks I'm slow
But my brain thinks
Past the moment though
 
Oh oh oh a little burro
A cunning animal am I
Oh oh oh a little burro
I win and I don't even try
 
Me carga con sacos pesados
La montaña escalar
Yo me hago el cansado
Lo hago sudar
 
Un día me puse a pensar
Qué tonto mi patrón
Lo dejo siempre ganar
Pero la victoria es mi don
 
Ay ay ay mi burrito
Qué astuto animal
Ay ay ay mi burrito
Siempre salgo triunfal
 
 
He loads me with heavy sacks
To climb the mountain
I pretend to be tired
So his shirt with sweat is stained
 
One day I started to think
How foolish my master is
He thinks he always wins
But victory is not his!
 
Oh oh oh a little burro
A cunning animal am I
Oh oh oh a little burro
I win and I don't even try