Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 8 - Ríu Ríu Chíu [Spain]

Ríu Ríu Chíu, also known as Ríu Chíu, is a Spanish villancico that has attained contemporary fame as a Christmas carol. The song is usually attributed to Mateo Flecha the Elder (1481–1553). It's believed that the words ríu, ríu, chíu are an imitation of a bird call. The carol's basic theme is the nativity of Christ and the Immaculate Conception.

Riu riu chiu, la guarda ribera;
     [Riu, riu, chiu, the river bank protects it]
Dios guardo el lobo de nuestra cordera.
     [As God kept the wolf from our lamb]

(1) El lobo rabioso la quiso morder,
     [The rabid wolf tried to bite her]
Mas Dios poderoso la supo defender;
     [But God Almighty knew how to defend her]
Quisola hazer que no pudiese pecar,
     [He wished to create her impervious to sin]
Ni aun original esta Virgen no tuviera.
     [Nor was this maid to embody original sin.]

(2) Este qu'es nacido es el gran monarca,
     [He who's now begotten is our mighty Monarch]
Christo patriarca, de carne vestido;
     [Christ, our Holy Father, in human flesh embodied]
hanos redimido con se hacer chiquito,
     [He made himself small and so redeemed us]
a un qu'era infinito, finito se hiziera.
     [He who was infinite became finite.]

(3) Muchas profecias lo han profetizado,
     [Many prophecies told of his coming]
Ya un nuestros dias lo hemos al consado
     [And now in our days have we seen them fulfilled]
Adios humanado vemos en el suelo,
     [God became man, on earth we behold him]
Yal hombre nelcielo porquel le quistera.
     [And see man in heaven because he so willed.]

(4) Yo vi mil garzones que andaban cantando,
     [A thousand singing angels I saw passing]
por aquí volando, haciendo mil sones,
     [Flying overhead, sounding a thousand voices]
diciendo a gascones: "Gloria sea en el cielo
     [Exulting, "Glory be in the heavens]
y paz en el suelo", pues de sus nasciera.
     [And peace on Earth, for Jesus has been born."]

(5) Este viene a dar a los muertos vida
     [He comes to give life to the dead]
y viene a reparar de todos la caída;
     [He comes to redeem the fall of man]
es la luz del día aqueste mozuelo;
     [This child is the light of day]
este es el cordero que San Juan dixera.
     [He is the very lamb Saint John prophesied.]

(6) Mira bien queos quadre que ansina lo oyera,
     [Behold . . .]
Que Dios no pudiera hacer la mas que madre,
     [God could call none greater mother]
El quera su padre hoy della nascio
     [than she who gives birth to her father]
Y el que la drio su hijo so dixera.
     [and now calls Him Son.]

(7) Pues que ya tenemos lo que deseamos,
     [Now we have gotten what we were all desiring]
todos juntos vamos, presentes llevemos;
     [Go we together to bear him gifts]
todos le daremos muestra voluntad,
     [Let each give his will to the God who was willing]
pues a se igualar con el hombre viniera.
     [To come down to Earth man's equal to be.]

 

Ríu Ríu Chíu - The Boston Camerata

 

Ríu Ríu Chíu - Anúna (arr. M. McGlynn)

Ríu Ríu Chíu - Lithuanian Boys Choir Dagilelis