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A​ñ​os Perdidos

by Jose Luis Lepe

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1.
En los jardines mas floridos de mi pueblo corte las flores mas hermosas que fui hallando para ponerlas en la frente de mi madre un diez de mayo que se estaba celebrando Andando lejos me di cuenta que los anos son gotas de agua que al juntarse dan problemas en la presencia de mi padre y mis hermanos rodo mi llanto porque no halle cosas buenas Arrepentido por los anos que se fueron les di un abrazo y me les puse de rodillas aquellos ojos que partir un dia me vieron tenian la marca de mi ausencia en sus mejillas Senti tristeza pero ya no habia remedio el tiempo pasa y tiene que cobrar lo suyo como un tesoro conservaban los juguetes que cuando nino yo jugaba con orgullo Cuando uno es joven se ilusiona de la nada sin importarle que alguien llore su destino las oraciones de mi madre me llamaban y unas mujeres me tapaban el camino. Aquellos hijos que anden lejos de sus padres hagan esfuerzos por volver a su querencia no esperen mucho porque puede ser muy tarde y encuentren cosas que remuerdan su conciencia 
 English Translation: In the most florid gardens of my home town I cut the most precious flowers I could find To place them in front of my mother On the 10th of May celebration As years go by I realize that years Are water droplets that combined create problems In the presence of my father and my brothers My tears rolled because I did not find good memories Repentant for the years that passed by I embraced them and got down on my knees The eyes that once saw me leave Had the scars of my absence on their faces I felt sad, but what could I do? Time passes and life takes over you Like a treasure, they had preserved the toys That I proudly played with as a boy As a youth, it’s so easy to dream and hope Without caring if anyone cries on our behalf My mother’s prayers would call to me But women would get in my way For those children far away from their folks Make an effort to return to their loving arms Don’t wait too long or it may be too late And you’ll end up with so much guilt
2.
Voy a cantar el corrido de Luis Anaya Fregoso se le acabo la existencia un dia que limpiaba un pozo siendo el hombre precavido entro a lo mas peligroso Metio hasta el fondo del pozo la pompa de gasolina no pudo darse la idea esta persona tan fina que con los gases del humo un pozo se contamina Con el cuerpo sin controles quiso subir la escalera y cuando estaba en peligro no habia nadie que lo viera y los planes que tenia salieron de otra manera Cayo al fondo de cabeza con la sangre envenenada no pudo alcanzar la mano cuando su hija se la daba le faltaban escalones a la escalera mentada Maldito pozo artesano que ya no te hagan confianza te llevastes a un paisano por culpa de una estramancia que puso para limpiarte y no midio la distancia No todo el tiempo la muerte anda en balas de casquillo mirenle bien los disfraces porque no ensena el colmillo adios al Rodeo Jalisco municipio de Atenguillo 
 English Translation: I’m going to sing the corrido Of Luis Anaya Fregoso His life ended One day as he cleaned a well Being a pre-cautious man He walked into the mouth of danger Up to the end of the well he placed The gasoline pump This refined person Did not foresee That with the gases from smoke The well becomes polluted Losing control of his body He tried to climb the ladder In the middle of danger No one could see him And the plans he had made Turned out differently He fell in headfirst His blood poisoned He could not reach for the hand That his daughter stretched out for him Some steps were missing From the mentioned ladder Damned artesian well Let no one trust you again You took a fellow compatriot Because of the substance That he used to clean you But did not measure the distance Death does not always come Encased in bullet shells Look closely at all its disguises Because he won’t show his fangs Goodbye to Rodeo Jalisco In the town of Atenguillo
3.
El Rebelde 03:35
Soy un hombre muy rebelde igual que una mula bruta el que pretenda a esa dama conmigo se la disputa Cien porciento Mexicano pariente de Montezuma no le temo a los demonios ni al anima de Zayula El que se me ponga perro lo despacho a los infiernos porque si lo dejo vivo puede resultar con cuernos Con el pantalon bien puesto donde quiera me paseo con billetes en la bolsa para no verme tan feo Yo cargo muchos casquillos repletos de dinamita por si algunos fulanillos ofenden a la senorita El arma que yo me porto no es cualquier fierro mojoso es una .45 con el canon venenoso Cuando le jalo el gatillo me quieren hacer compadre pero la mujer bonita no me gusta pa comadre 
 English Translation: I am a very rebellious man Same as a dumb mule And whomever woos that lady With me he’ll dispute 100 percent Mexican Descendant from Montezuma I’m not scared of demons Or the ghost from Zayula Those who get hardheaded I’ll send off to hell Because if I leave them alive They could grow horns With my pants on firmly I’ll trod along anywhere With some bills in my pocket To make me look fair I carry tons of shells Filled with dynamite In case any so and so Offend my lady The weapon I sport Is not any mouldy metal It’s a .forty-five With a venomous barrel When I pull the trigger The want to be my buddy But a beautiful woman I don’t like as a friend
4.
Soy el senor Jose Lepe y quiero hacerle un corrido a una hermanita que tuve sin haberla conocido mi madre nunca nos dijo de lo que habia sucedido Al casarse con mi padre tuvo su primer criatura hay gente que nos platica con tristeza y amargura que un descuido de mi madre la mando a la sepultura La nina tenia dos anos cuando nacio mi otro hermano mi madre se fue a traer agua al arroyo mas cercano la nina quedo en peligro y nadie le echo una mano Uno nueve cuatro y ocho fue un ano de mala suerte la nina le puso fuego a una hornilla de juguete se le prendio su vestido y eso le causo la muerte Los vecinos escucharon cuando la nina gritaba lo primero que pensaron que mi mama le pegaba y en vez de correr dijeron mira que mujer tan brava Una vez oi a mi padre comentarselo a un amigo que por no estar el presente su hija murio sin auxilio en Suelos Duros, Jalisco ranchito donde yo vivo Voy a dejar el escrito a ver si aprende la gente a retirar del peligro a los ninos inocentes perdon madre si te ofendo yo se que fue un accidente 
 English Translation: I am Mr. Jose Lepe And I want to sing a corrido To a little sister I had Without ever meeting her My mother never told us Of what had occurred After marrying my father They had their first child There are people who tell us With sadness and bitterness That an oversight by my mother Sent her to her grave The girl was two years old When my brother was born My mother went to gather water From the nearest stream Leaving the child in danger And nobody gave her a hand One nine four and eight Was a year of bad luck The child tried to light up A toy stove Her dress catching fire Causing her death The neighbors heard it all As the child screamed But the first thought that came to their minds Was that my mother was hitting her And instead of going to help her they said That woman is mean Once I heard my father Comment to a friend That because he was not there His daughter died without any help In Suelos Duros, Jalisco The small ranch where I live I’ll leave it written Hoping that people will learn To keep innocent children Away from danger I’m sorry mother if I offend you I know that it was an accident
5.
Soy como los gavilanes que traen el pico afilado no cargo garras prestadas y en cualquier corral me paro Tengo gustos especiales no cualquier pichon me llevo ando buscando pollitas de las que no han puesto huevo Vijilando gallineros me divierto muy a gusto tengo que amansar los gallos pa que no me den un susto Si me sorprende un coyote correteando mi pollita no ha de faltar zopilote que consuele a la viudita Las gallinas cuando quieren dejan al gallo dormido brincan al corral ajeno y se meten a otro nido Yo por esa gallinita dejaria de ser pollero es la que me trae con ganas de asaltar el gallinero 
 English Translation: I am like a hawk With a sharpened beak I don’t carry borrowed claws And I’ll stand in any corral I have special tastes I don’t take just any pigeon I am looking for chicks That have yet to lay an egg Keeping an eye on chicken shacks I enjoy very much I have to tame the roosters So they don’t catch me by surprise If a coyote startles me Chasing my chick There is no lack of vultures To console the widow When the hens want They leave the roosters sleeping Jump over to a different corral And climb into another nest For that little chicken I’d quit being a poulterer She’s the one that provokes me Into storming the chicken shack
6.
La Carreta 04:40
Por los caminos que la gente echo al olvido hay unas huellas de dos ruedas de carreta ano con ano se escuchaba el rechinido cuando mi abuelo levantaba su cosecha Un par de mulas ensillaba muy temprano encaramado por un lado de mi abuela con la carreta engrasada de los ejes echaban vueltas de la casa a la parcela Cortando elotes y flores de calabaza y frijol tierno con la vaina madurando no se bajaba de la espalda su escopeta por si un venado se anduviera atravesando Con los becerros dentro de un corral de piedra metian las vacas para llevarse la leche en una cueva escondian alcohol de cana pa que mi abuela se aventara un pajarete No se me olvidan los andenes de las mulas ni la carreta con el cargamento encima se fueron lejos los hermanos de mi padre y abandonaron sus labores de rutina Aquellos tiempos tan bonitos ya no vuelven ni mis abuelos ni mis padres tienen vida pa que las huellas de esas ruedas se conserven voy cancelando las entradas y salidas 
 English Translation: Through the roads that people have forgotten There are tracks from two wheels on a cart Year after year the screeching could be heard When my grandpa harvested his fields A pair of mules he’d saddle up early ‘morn Lifted up to mount by my grandma With the cart greased up by the axel Made round trips from the house to the plot Cutting corncob and pumpkin flowers And tender beans with ripened pods His rifle never came down from his back In case a deer crossed his path With the calfs inside a stone corral Brought in the cows so they could milk them In a cave they’d hide the cane wine So my grandma could sneak a morning drink I don’t forget the mules’ path Nor the cart or the cargo on top My father’s brothers moved very far away And left their routine labor Those precious moments will not come back Neither grand folks nor my parents are alive So that those cart tracks could be preserved I’m blocking entrances and exits
7.
Gracielita 02:02
Que bonitos ojos tienes Gracielita que parecen dos gotitas de café fue mi Dios el que los puso en tu carita fue mi suerte porque yo los encontre Tus ojitos lanzan flechas cuando miran y una de ellas me pego en el Corazon miraditas que por poco me asesinan y que pueden ser tambien mi salvacion Quien le puso tanta miel a tu boquita quien te puso Gracielita linda flor yo quisiera tener alas de abejita y cuidar el panalito de tu amor Campos verdes, arroyuelos y jardines estan tristes por la flor que les corte una rosa me negaba su perfume y espinandome las manos lo logre Gracielita no te vistas mas de negro porque me haces recordar algo muy cruel tus encantos me gobiernan el cerebro y me traen como muneco de papel 
 English Translation: What beautiful eyes you have Gracielita They look like two coffee drops It was my God who put them on your face It was my luck because I found them Your eyes shoot flames when they stare And one of them hit me square in the heart Little stares that very nearly kill me But can also save my life Who put so much honey on your lips Who named you Gracielita little flower I wish I had little bee wings To guard your little honeycomb of love Green lawns, streams and gardens Are saddened by the flower that I cut A rose that was denying me her fragrance I finally picked, pricking my hands Gracielita Don’t wear black no more Because It reminds of something cruel Your charms rule my brain Turning me into a paper doll
8.
Anduvo por Mexicali en un bochito trepada repartiendo Tupperwares nos vendia y otros fiaba Nunca le midio el aceite ni le cambio bateria a veces se le apagaba a veces nunca prendia Maria nunca fue conforme le hacia cosquillas el norte le tuvo miedo al coyote y entro con un pasaporte Venia con el gusanito de hacer viajes a Las Vegas donde los casinos pagan con lo mismo que otros juegan Tenia bastante perico y era muy inteligente quien sabe como le haria pero convencia a la gente Esa carretera quince se la sabe de memoria tantas idas y venidas ya no caben en la historia Adios Mariquita Vega de tu pasaje me alejo tu bocho de Mexicali se fue para el fierro Viejo 
 English Translation: She roamed through Mexicali Climbed inside a buggy Distributing Tupperware Some sold, some on credit Never measured the oil Or changed the battery Sometimes it’d turn off Sometimes it’d never start Maria was never content The north tickled her But she feared the coyote So she entered with a passport She came with the idea Of making trips to Las Vegas Where the Casinos pay With what others gamble She carried a lot of blow And was very smart Who knows how she did it But she had a way of convincing people The Interstate 15 She knows it by heart All the comings and goings Don’t fit in this story Goodbye Mariquita Vega From your story I depart And your buggy from Mexicali Has gone to the old junkyard
9.
Zacatecano 02:52
Voy a cantarle una cansion a un pedacito de la patria mexicana hasta me brinca el corazon cuando recuerdo mi tierra zacatecana Un tamborazo regional quiero que venga y acompane mis cantares dos garrafones de mescal me haran que grite dichos y barbaridades Viva la tierra del nopal voy pregonando por pueblitos y ciudades y no me digan que hago mal si me emborracho entre parientes y amistades En Zacatecas yo naci comiendo tunas agarre el color que tengo no me averguenzo ser de aqui soy mexicano y de nopales me mantengo Echenle golpes al tambor haganme ruido clarinets y trompetas y no me lo hagan de favor que aqui hay billetes para tapizar banquetas Vengan mujeres a bailar y taconeenle que la fiesta va empezando y cuando empiecen a sudar echense un trago pero sigan zapateando Denle un soplido al saxofon y no se aguiten ni se sientan ofendidos saquenle el mojo a ese trombon que me rebuznen esos fierros retorcidos 
 I’m going to sing a song To a tiny piece of the Mexican homeland My heart skips a beat When I remember my Zacatecan land I want a Regional Marching band To join me in my song Two gallons of Mescal Will make me scream expressions And stupidities Viva the land of the “nopal” I proclaim around towns and cities And don’t say I’m in the wrong If I get drunk amongst friends and family I was born in Zacatecas Eating tunas is how I got this skin color I’m not embarrassed to be from here I’m Mexican and on nopales I survive Let the band hit those drums Clarinets and the trumpets make noise And don’t do it as a favor Because there’s enough cash here to upholster a banquet Come and dance my ladies And click your heels that the party is starting And when you start to sweat Have a drink but keep on clicking your heels Someone blow on the Sax And don’t get worked up or feel offended Take the muffler out of that trombone Let that twisted metal bray
10.
En los derrumbes de minas muchos mineros han muerto las esperanzas de vida se van al cero por ciento pero en la mina de Chile surgio un rescate perfecto Con una flor en el pico vuela palomita vuela parate junto a la mina y aunque el Corazon te duela cantale a los mineros y a sus familias consuela Esa mina de oro y cobre tiene mucho de que hablarse acorralo a los mineros por no poder percatarse que la tierra era muy fragil y que podia derumbarse 
Tecnicos inteligentes llenos de sabiduria con ayuda de Dios padre y de la Virgen Maria reforzaron un equipo que a todos rescatarian El mero cinco de Agosto habian quedado atrapados pero el dia trece de Octubre todos fueron liberados antes de que fallecieran en la mina sofocados El desierto de Atacama Se convirtio en campamento mas de dos mil periodistas llegaron con su talento para que el mundo supiera de tal acontecimiento La maquina que abrio el hueco donde la capsula entrara junto con un rescatista y un cable que la jalara como joya milagrosa debe ser considerada El ano dos mil diez corre y me despido senores del presidente de Chile y sus colaboradores mina San Jose y sus heroes tambien sus trabajadores English Translation: In the collapsing of mines Many miners have died The chance of survival Seem like zero percent But in the mines of Chile Emerged a perfect rescue With a flower in its beak Fly little dove, fly Land near the mine And even if your heart aches Sing to the miners And comfort their families This mine of gold and copper Has a lot to be talked about It cornered all the miners For not realizing That the soil was very fragile And that it could all come toppling down Intelligent engineers Full of wisdom With the help of God the father And the Virgin Mary Put together a team That would rescue them all On that fateful August 5th They became entrapped But the 13th of October All were liberated Before they would perish Suffocated in the mines The desert of Atacama Was turned into a camp More than 2,000 journalists Arrived with their talent So the world could learn About the turn of events The machine that opened the earth Where the capsule could enter Along with a rescuer And a cable to pull them Should be considered A miraculous jewel The year 2010 continues And I say my farewell To the president of Chile And his collaborators The San Juan Mine and its heroes And also its workers
11.
Vestida de verde mar con su pelo bien peinado a quien no le ha de gustar su cuerpo recien banado Que bonito se le ve el escote de su blusa parece que un arco iris volteado se le dibuja Con su treinta y ocho D de veras me trae alerta de plano si trae con que me mantenga y me divierta Cuando pasa junto a mi con esa falda cortita fulanos de por alli quieren comprar pistolita A veces me quiere ver y su mama no la deja pero ya le mande hacer una ventana sin reja La voy a fotografiar pa ponerla en un cuadrito que tiene mi celular y verla a cada ratito 
 English Translation Dressed in sea green With her hair nicely combed Who would not like Her freshly bathed body How beautiful it looks The cleavage of her blouse It looks like a rainbow Drawn upside down With her 38D She really has me at attention In plain terms she brings Plenty to keep me entertained When she walks by me With her short mini skirt Other guys from around Want to impress her Sometimes she wants to see me But her mother doesn’t let her But I just ordered A bar less window for her I’m going to take her picture And put it in the tiny screen Of my cell phone So I can look at her all the time
12.
Carmencita 03:35
Carmencita que bonita que mujer tan diferente tu y las flores arremeten contra mi son iguales de preciosas y confunden a mi mente que no cesa de pensar no mas en ti Tu y las flores me condenan a que llore sin consuelo duele mucho no poderlas alcanzar que Diosito mande un angel de los que cuidan el cielo a ladearlas mientras las puedo cortar Te imaginas Carmencita cuantas flores se marchitan van perdiendo su hermosura y su altivez primaveras que llegaron y se fueron muy aprisa que tristeza que no vuelvan otra vez Si tu amor es imposible ya no quiero estar sufriendo yo no entiendo para que te conoci te lo juro Carmencita que sin ti me estoy muriendo y la vida no la quiero yo sin ti 
 English Translation: Carmencita you’re so pretty You’re so different You and the flowers Seize and shock me You are equally precious And confuse my mind Can’t think of nothing else but you You and the flowers condemn me To inconsolable tears It is painful not being able to reach both Let God send an angel Of those that guard heaven To tilt them while I cut them down Can you imagine Carmencita How many flowers wither Lose their beauty and haughtiness Many a Spring that arrived And departed in a haste What a pity that they will not return If your love is impossible I don’t want to suffer any longer I don’t understand why I ever met you I swear Carmencita That without you I am dying And I don’t want my life without you
13.
La Carmela 02:29
Los domingos por la tarde despues que el sol se mete voy a ver a Carmelita a ver quien me tira un cohete Dicen que quieren matarme por pisar esos terrenos ya empezo a relampaguearme pero no se oyen los truenos No me anden pintando rayas porque soy muy agresivo y les puedo dar de baja al que se pase de vivo Los papas de Carmelita pasan con la cara verde de coraje que la hijita cada noche se les pierde Yo me curo el mal de amores en los brazos de Carmela y aunque les cause dolores esta palomita vuela 
 English Translation: Sunday early evening After the sun goes down I’m going to see Carmelita Let’s see who takes a shot at me They say they want to kill me For trespassing that territory The storm of lightning has started But I can’t hear the thunder Don’t go painting me as crazy Because I’m very aggressive And I can bring down Anyone who tries to pull one on me Carmelita’s parents Are always enraged Because their daughter Escapes every night I heal my love sickness In the arms of Carmelita And even if it causes them pain This dove flies away

about

In the oral tradition of storytelling, the Corrido stands as an enduring historical musical form in Mexican culture that has documented the daily lives of countless authors and their subjects. It is precisely this tradition that Jose Luis Lepe imaginatively applies in his debut album, Años Perdidos. In the epic poetic prose that distinguishes the traditional Corrido, Lepe brings to life the characters he’s met along the way and the loves lost and gained, all melded with a ferocious pride for the homeland. The songs are peppered with unforgettable colloquial references such as chicken hawks, wet steel (a .45 caliber pistol), mule carts and many others. All these references share equal parts in the narrative with the Accordion and Bajo Sexto as they fill the empty canvas Lepe has chosen for his stories. The fascinating aspect of Años Perdidos is the nostalgic tone that seeps into every word that Lepe utters—a tone that is perfectly reflected in the album’s title: The Lost Years.

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released April 15, 2011

All Songs written by: Jose Luis Lepe.

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LMS Records Los Angeles, California

LMS Records is an independent record label specializing in all forms of Latin music. Our Mission is to find, develop, produce, distribute and promote, new and exciting latin artists. LMS Records artists have been featured in TV shows such as "Heroes", "Dexter", CSI" and "Lost", as well as movie placements in "Gran Torino", "My Week With Marylin", and "A Better Life". ... more

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