El Corrido de Mariano Reséndez
"...as has been noted, smuggling [has] long been part of the border way of life. Still sung today is "EI Corrido de Mariano Resendéz," about a prominent smuggler of textiles into Mexico, circa 1900. So highly respected were Resendéz and his activities that he was known as 'EI Contrabandista.'"
-Américo Paredes
"Mariano Reséndez"
(Traditional
ballad sung by Los Alegres de Terán duet)
Audio Courtesy of Arhoolie Frontera Collection
The year nineteen
hundred
left us quite vivid memories:
Mariano Reséndez died;
aprehended
by Nieves Hernández
At his ranch,
which was El Charco,
on an unfortunate Tuesday,
the man could not save himself
as he woke up surrounded.
They went to
knock down the door
when his brother arrived;
anxiously they asked him,
"Where can Don Mariano be found?"
Don José
María Reséndez,
his reply was truthful:
"Sirs, I do
not know anything;
I am coming from Santa Elena."
The wagon in
which Mariano rode
was surrounded by picked men;
Mariano Reséndez
said,
"I have not lost hope."
As they were
scared of him
that he might be given some office,
they killed him while
between
Agualeguas and Cerralvo.
Police of Guerrero,
I carry you all on a list;
you will no longer die from fright;
"The
Smuggler" is already dead.
State of Tamaulipas,
municipality of Méndez,
because of the fault of contraband
did Mariano
Reséndez die.
"Mariano Reséndez"
(Corrido tradicional cantado por el dueto Los Alegres de Terán)
Año de
mil novecientos
dejó recuerdos muy grandes:
murió Mariano
Reséndez
lo aprehendió Nieves Hernández.
En su rancho,
que era El Charco,
día martes desdichado,
no pudo el hombre salvarse
porque amaneció sitiado.
Le iban a quebrar
la puerta
cuando llegaba su hermano;
con ansia le preguntaban:
"¿Dónde
se halla don Mariano?"
Don José
María Reséndez,
su contestación fue buena:
"Señores,
yo no sé nada;
yo vengo de Santa Elena."
El carro en que
iba Mariano
iba rodeado de lanzas;
decía Mariano Reséndez:
"No pierdo las esparanzas."
Como le tuvieron
miedo
que recibiera algún cargo,
lo mataron intermedio
de Agualeguas
y Cerralvo.
Empleaditos de
Guerrero,
a todos los llevo en lista;
ya no morirán de susto,
ya
murió "El Contrabandista".
Estado de Tamaulipas,
el municipio de Méndez,
por culpa del contrabando
murió Mariano
Reséndez.