Cuando el sol se inclinaba,                   When the sun was setting
lo encontré,                                                I found him
en un rancho sombrío,                           In a gloomy hut,
de Lonquén,                                              in Lonquen,
en un rancho de pobres,                        In a poverty stricken sickness,
lo encontré,                                                I found him,
cuando el sol se inclinaba,                    When the sun was setting
en Lonquén.                                              in Lonquen
Sus manos siendo tan viejas                His hands, although so old
eran fuertes pa' trenzar,                          were strong in their plaiting,
eran rudas y eran tiernas                       They were rough and they were tender
con el cuero'el animal.                            with the animal skin.
El lazo como serpiente                            The plaited noose, like a snake
se enroscaba en el nogal                        curled around the walnut tree
y en cada lazo la huella                            In which every mesh was woven
de su vida y de su pan.                              His life and his bread.
Cuanto tiempo hay en sus manos          How much time is contained in his hands
y en su apagado mirar.                            and in his patient gaze
Y nadie ha dicho: esta bueno,                 and nobody has said: "That's enough,
ya no debes trabajar.                                you should not work anymore."
La sombra viene laceando                      The shadows fell interlacing,
la ultima luz del día                                     the last light of the day.
el viejo trenza unos versos                       The old man weaves some verses
pa' maniatar la alegría.                              to capture some gaiety.
Sus lazos han recorrido                              His nooses have traveled
sur y norte, cerro y mar,                              south and north, coast and mountain,
pero el viejo la distancia                            but the old man never learnt
nunca la supo explicar.                             what distance really means.
Su vida deja en los lazos                           He leaves his life in plainted leather
aferrados al nogal,                                     knotted to the walnut tree
después llegara la muerte                          Soon death will come
y también lo laceara.                                  and that too will be plaited in.
Que importa si el lazo es firme                  What does it matter if the noose is firm
y dura la eternidad,                                    and lasts for eternity,
laceando por algún campo                         Intertwined with some country place
el viejo descanzara.                                     the old man at last will rest.
Cuando el sol se inclinaba,                        When the sun was setting
lo encontré,                                                 I found him
en un rancho sombrío                                 In a gloomy hut
de Lonquén,                                                in Lonquen
en un rancho de pobres                               In a poverty stricken sickness
lo encontré,                                                 I found him
cuando el sol se inclinaba                           When the sun was setting
en Lonquén.                                                in Lonquen

Courtesy of: http://www.msu.edu/~chapmanb/jara/esongs.html