Bañao por los rayos del sol que se incendia
muriendo en la tarde detrás del ceibal,
va un gaucho al tranquito rumiando su pena,
camino del rancho que besa un sauzal...
Lonjazos del zonda castigan los cerros,
allá por las peñas dispara un huemul,
y el alma del gaucho recoge las notas
de dulce tristeza que canta el kacuy.

Regresa triste del valle,
donde al lao de un ciprés,
dejó pa' siempre a la china
que era tuito su querer...
¿Por qué te fuiste, mi vida?,
dice lleno de dolor...
¡Tal vez por linda y por güena
Dios de envidia te llevó!

Envuelto en su poncho, guasqueao por el viento,
igual que un fantasma, llevando su cruz,
va el gaucho cruzando los campos dormidos,
camino del rancho sin alma y sin luz...
Pasó la tranquera y el pingo miraba,
tal vez extrañao de no verla más,
y el gaucho le dijo: ¡No mire, mi pingo,
que la patroncita ya no volverá!

Entró al ranchito en silencio
y dos velas encendió
al pie de la Virgencita
que sus rezos escuchó.
¡Decile que no me olvide,
Virgencita del Perdón,
decíla que su gauchito
se ha quedao sin corazón!

English translation

Bathed by the rays of the sun that sets itself on fire
dying in the afternoon behind the ceibal,
a gaucho goes to the tranquito ruminating his sorrow,
on his way to the ranch that kisses a willow tree...
The zonda punishes the hills,
there by the crags shoots a huemul,
and the soul of the gaucho picks up the notes
of sweet sadness sung by the kacuy.

He returns sad from the valley,
where by the side of a cypress tree,
he left forever the china woman
who was his love...
Why did you leave, my life?
he says full of pain...
Maybe because you were so pretty and so good-looking
God of envy took you!

Wrapped up in his poncho, wind-swept, like a ghost, carrying his cross,
like a ghost, carrying his cross,
goes the gaucho crossing the sleeping fields,
on his way to the ranch without soul and without light...
He passed the gate and the pingo watched,
perhaps strange not to see her anymore,
and the gaucho said: "Don't look, my pingo!
the little patroness is not coming back!

He entered the ranch in silence
and lit two candles
at the foot of the Virgin
who listened to his prayers.
Tell her not to forget me,
Little Virgin of Forgiveness,
tell her that her little gauchito
has run out of heart!