I know you’re leaving, like a bird that flies away,
Leaving my poor soul sad with a dream to hold.
But I know you’ll return, you’ll have to come back one day,
You won’t be able to forget, no, you won’t forget that time we loved so true.
And if you say that you will come back,
Remember that I won’t forget you,
You haven’t returned, but I sense that you are there,
And I imagine when you’ll be by my side again.
December moon,
Moon of San Juan,
Tell her to return,
Because I can’t bear it, oh, I can’t bear it, come back, my darling.
San Juan’s custom is to give your heart away,
That the woman is sincere and has a kind heart,
That she has the virtues of the women from there,
That she feels pure passion like the waters of the Cesar River.
They’re the customs of my town from days gone by,
That I know well you’ll learn with me,
I promised to visit your land,
And I’ll take you to San Juan, too.
Streets of my town,
Full of joy,
Tell her that I love her,
That I love her, oh, I love her so, my beloved one.
Radiant is the morning, it accompanies you in your garden,
And so you wait for the night to fall asleep,
My beautiful serenade will always wake you,
You’ll stay there, my friends invite me to sing two more.
It is custom for those from San Juan to show
Their love with a serenade when in love.
If she is pleased, she must appear,
And the next day, they send her a note.
Beloved Cesar River,
Sing my song,
Rejoice, my people,
I am the one who sings, oh, I am the troubadour, oh, I am the singer.
I am the one who sings, oh, I am the troubadour, oh, I am the singer.