La Delgadina

"La Delgadina" is a Mexican folk song, or corrido, centering on a young lady that disobeys her father's wish to be his wife, ending with her tragic death.

Her father instructs her to wear her silk skirt (nagua de seda in Spanish) to travel to Morelia to church for Mass.

The song has been made famous by Mexican artists such as Irma Serrano, Dueto América, and Las Hermanas Mendoza.

[4] In the novel Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel García Márquez, the 90-year-old narrator sings the song to an underage prostitute who reminds him of Delgadina.

[5] Delgadina se paseaba de la sala a la cocina con su vestido de seda, que a su cuerpo le ilumina Delgadina walks from the parlor to the kitchen with her silk dress, that illuminates her body Levántate Delgadina, ponte tus nahuas de seda porque nos vamos a misa a la ciudad de Morelia Wake up Delgadina, put your silk clothes on because we're going to attend mass at the city of Morelia Luego que salio de misa su papá le platicaba Delgadina hijita mía yo te quiero para dama Right after mass, her father told her Delgadina, my daughter, I want you as my wife No permita Dios del cielo ni la reina soberana Esta ofensa para Dios y traicion para mi mama God of Heaven and the sovereign queen forbid this offense to God, and treason to my mother Júntense los once criados y enciérren a Delgadina remachen bien los candados, que no se oiga voz ladina Eleven servants, gather around and lock up Delgadina Tighten up the locks, so that no soft voice may be heard Papacito de mi vida, tu castigo esto sufriendo, regálame un vaso de agua, que de sed me estoy muriendo Dear father of my life, your punishment I am suffering Give me a cup of water, for I am dying of thirst Júntense los once criados, llévenle agua a Delgadina, en vaso sobredorado, vaso de cristal de China Eleven servants, gather around give water to Delgadina in a gold cup, a cup of Chinese crystal.