La Iguana [English translation]

An iguana fell

from atop a staircase,

from the blow she took,

even her hips were injured.

Oh, my iguana, where are you going?

I'm going to the town of loneliness1

Whether it's a lie or the truth,

in that town there's nothing new.

If there was, it's a coincidence...

she's so ugly, such an ugly iguana,

she climbs a pole and then gets off.

She lays a little egg, she clucks.

She gets into a little hole so no one will see her,

she looks at herself in a mirror

because she's very ugly,

do the same as her so she'll believe it,

a la jea jea a la jea jea.2

An iguana fell

from atop a staircase...

An iguana fell

from a lover's branch,

from the blow she took,

she bruised like a tomato.3

Oh, my iguana, where are you going?

I'm going to the town of loneliness*

Whether it's a lie or the truth,

in that town there's nothing new.

If there was, it's a coincidence...

she's so ugly, such an ugly iguana,

she climbs a pole and then gets off.

She lays a little egg, she clucks.

She gets into a little hole so no one will see her,

she sticks her little leg out as if to kick,

she sticks her little tail out as if to wag it,

she sticks her little nails out as if to scratch.

She sticks her little nose4 out as if to smell,

she sticks her little head out as if shake it,

she sticks her little ear out as if to eavesdrop.

A la jea jea a la jea jea

an iguana fell

from a lover's branch.

1. Many towns or just locations in general are called "...de Soledad". So it could mean both loneliness and a town named 'Soledad'.2. Doesn't mean anything, it's just meant to rhyme with the previous line.3. lit. 'she burst her tomatoes'4. plural. 'noses'.

• Artist:Lila Downs