Santa Bárbara (also known as Nel Pozu Maria Luisa and Santa Bárbara Bendita) is a traditional song of the Asturian and Leonese coal miners.
The song The deeply emotional lyrics and the sorrowful and heroic score, usually sung a cappella by a male choir, turned the song into a symbol of Asturian coal mining and of mining in general. Sometimes used as a working class anthem, the hymn was widely used during the Asturian miners uprising of 1934 and during the Spanish Civil War.
The lyrics (usually sung in Asturian, Spanish or a mixture between both languages) describe the painful returning home of a miner, covered in the blood of his fellow miners, who tells his wife (Maruxina) of a mining accident in the famous Asturian mine known as Pozu Maria Luisa (located in Ciañu, Langreo). Coal mining, which is present in Asturias since the 18th century having a pivotal role in the historical economic activity of the region, is known as a very dangerous activity. Historically, hundreds of miners have died in the mines of Asturias and deadly mining accidents were sadly common in the miner population.
Santa Bárbara is nowadays considered to be an important piece of Asturian traditional music and is included prominently in the Asturian folk music repertoire. The song is also often used in funerals, tributes and memorials.
Original Asturian version
Nel pozu María Luisa Trailarai larai, trailarai Nel pozu María Luisa Trailarai larai, trailarai Morrieron cuatro mineros mira, mira Maruxina, mira mira como vengo yo
Traigo la camisa roxa Trailarai larai, trailarai Traigo la camisa roxa Trailarai larai, trailarai De sangre d'un compañeru Mira, mirái Maruxina, mira mira como vengo yo
Traigo la cabeza rota Trailarai larai, trailarai Traigo la cabeza rota Trailarai larai, trailarai Que me la rompió un barrenu Mira, mira Maruxina, mira mira como vengo yo
Santa Bárbara bendita Trailarai larai, trailarai Santa Bárbara bendita Trailarai larai, trailarai patrona de los mineros Mira, mira Maruxina, mira mira como vengo yo Patrona de los mineros Mira, mira Maruxina, mira mira como vengo yo
English translation
In the María Luisa pit // Trailarai larai, trailarai In the María Luisa mine Trailarai larai, trailarai Four miners have died Look, look Maruxina, look look how I'm coming home
My shirt has turned red Trailarai larai, trailarai My shirt has turned red Trailarai larai, trailarai Stained with the blood of a fellow miner Look, look Maruxina, look look how I'm coming home
My head has broken Trailarai larai, trailarai My head has broken Trailarai larai, trailarai It was broken in a blast Look, look Maruxina, look look how I'm coming home
Blessed Saint Barbara, Trailarai larai, trailarai Blessed Saint Barbara Trailarai larai, trailarai Patron saint of the miners Look, look Maruxina, look look how I'm coming home Patron saint of the miners Look, look Maruxina, look look how I'm coming home
A last couplet, sometimes omitted because of politically incorrect profanity, runs likewise:
Cago en los capataces Arrivistas y esquiroles (Variant) Accionistas y esquiroles
I Crap on the foremen (they're all) hustlers and union scabs (variant) And the shareholders and unions scabs too
External links Cover by folk band Nuberu at youtube.com (fanvid) Spanish language version sung by male choir