"Romance del Conde Olinos" is one of the most widespread ballads in the oral tradition of the Spanish speaking world. It's an anonymous ballad that's thought to be from the 15th century.

There are many versions of this song, you'll find 432 versions of them in Hispanic and Portuguese languages on this University of Washington Pan-Hispanic Ballad Project page.

Notes

*Saint John's Day is on June 24th.
**Note that in Spanish "garza" is feminine and "gavilán" masculine.

Comments

Monique Palomares wrote, "In several versions the two lovers become two bushes, but the queen has them cut down or unrooted, so they become birds, but the queen has them shot, then they become a fountain and a spring that cure many illnesses. The queen is losing sight in one eye and she goes to the fountain to be cured. She's denied a cure or she's told her eye will be cured but she'll lose sight in the other, or she's told she'll lose sight in both eyes instead of one.

Let's note also that sometimes the evil parent is not the queen but the king. In some versions the queen is Moorish and the count is Christian but in other versions it's the other way round, their difference in religion being the reason why their love is denied."

Listen
Watch
The children sing the first 9 verses.
Variations: verse 2 "Mientras su caballo bebe" (While his horse is drinking), verse 4 "Desde las torres más altas, la reina le oyó cantar" (From the highest towers, the queen heard him sing), verse 5 "…que por mí penando está." (Who's suffering because of me), verse 9 "… no cesaba de llorar" (same meaning)
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Variations: verse 2 "… se oye un hermoso cantar, las aves que iban pasando…" (a nice song can be heard, the birds that were passing by… ), verse 4: "…la sirenita del mar" (the little mermaid from the sea), verse 10 "…unos pasos más atras" (some steps behind), verse 12 "… no cesaba de llorar" (same meaning), verse 13 "De ella nacería una garza" (From her a heron would be born…)
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The children sing the first 9 verses.
Please let us know if you think this video has been taken down by YouTube.
Thanks!

Sheet Music

Sheet Music - Romance del Conde Olinos

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Translated by Monique Palomares.