That Little Chicken! (Ese Pollito)

Is there anything more adorable than a baby chick? A perfect omen that Spring is on the way! This month I’m featuring a huayño – a type of traditional song from Peru.  The video to follow tells the story of someone who gets a chicken as a gift and it will not be quiet. Notice that in Spanish, the chicks seem to say “pio, pio, pio,” instead of what we might think of as “peep, peep, peep!” The lyrics are in and English as well so you can easily learn a few new words in another language just by singing along. Chicken is “pollo.” A little chick is a “pollito.” A “regalo” is a gift or something that has been given and the phrase “ese pollito” probably means that someone was pretty tired of “that chick!”

ESE POLLITO
Traditional – Peru
New English Lyrics By Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou

Ese pollito que to me regalaste
Ese pollito que to me regalaste
Pio, pio, pio, pio siempre me dicen
Pio, pio, pio, pio en su corral…

This little chicken that you brought to my house
This little chicken that you brought to my house

Peep, peep, peep, peep – is all that she tells me
Peep, peep, peep, peep – all the day long!

Do you have a favorite baby animal song? Do you know any songs about animals in other languages? If you speak another language, can you tell us what chicks or rosters say when you describe their sound? It’s really fun to compare and check out the differences from place to place and culture to culture.
But, no matter where you live, I’m wishing you a beautiful new Spring and happy new beginnings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning children’s performer, DARIA (Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou) has created 7 cd’s that have won national honors. She has the most awesome job of traveling the world to sing for kids and peace. Her “world music for kids” website, www.dariamusic.com, was given a 2009 Parents Choice Award for its musical and cultural content.  She has also created a multicultural kids video site as well as My Favorite Multicultural Books.