El Bandoler [English translation]

It was the 19th century,

the name was Joan Serra,

bandolero1 by vocation,

his nickname: La Pera.2

Blood pleased him,

fresh and new

that sprouts from wounds

and makes the clothes dirty.

Screams could be heard

from the victims crazy

from the fear and the pain,

"piety, piety!"

- Don't kill me!

I have two children and a wife.

I will give you all my money,

but don't stab me with that dagger!

- Don't kill me!

I beg you in the name of my mother.

- Pray your last credo.

- Piety, piety!

And slowly,

he nailed him with stabs,

his nickname was La Pera,

bandolero by vocation.

Next day,

in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel3

there is a man who prays

for two candles to light their flames.

And there,

throughout roads and mountains

the strong yells can be heard

from the people that La Pera kills.

- Don't kill me!

I have two children and a wife.

I will give you all my money,

but don't stab me with that dagger!

- Don't kill me!

I beg you in the name of my mother.

- Pray your last credo.

- Piety, piety!

And once again

the Virgin gets a prayer

and for the soul of the dead

two candles now have flames.

But for Joan Serra,

today there was no more luck,

two soldiers had seized him,

and now he rests behind bars.

And everybody that good morning

sees the gallows prepared.

La Pera cries out one last time,

it is the last prayer.

- When I am well dead,

and hanging from the high gallow,

and my heart decays,

and I am taken to my grave,

could somebody pray a prayer

in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,

and may two candles light their flames.

No one did so.

1. Literally "outlaw, bandit," specifically from Spain (or even Latin America).2. Literally "The Pear." Notice that the Catalan word 'en' is not included, as it is merely a personal article used in front of masculine names.3. A title and name given to Virgin Mary.

• Artist:Lluís Llach
• Album:Les seves primeres cançons (1968)