Salve Reina (Hail Queen)
salve jíbara

Lyrics and music: Raquel Z. Rivera. Arrangement: Alejandro Negrón. Lead vocals: Raquel Z. Rivera. Chorus: Catarina Dos Santos, Alejandro Negrón and Raquel Z. Rivera. Guitar and cuatros: Alejandro Negrón. Güiro and bongó: Obanilú Iré Allende Solana.

* Text in Latin comes from two anonymous medieval songs found in the vellum manuscript Legenda Sanctissimae Mariae Magdalenae Add MS 15682 in the British Library; my heartfelt thanks to Belinda Sykes and Joglaresa for making it widely available through their 2003 CD Magdalena.

Dulcísima María, ay llena eres tú de gracia
(coro) Salve Reina, salve
Salve Rosa del Cielo, mi estrella de la luz
Dulcísima María, ay compañera mía
María te cantamos con velas prendidas
Salve, salve, salve Reina
Salve La Monserrate y salve La Milagrosa
Salve Virgen de Altagracia y salve mi Dolorosa
Salve Virgen de Regla y salve la Caridad
Salve Reina

* Salve pia Magdalena / Et lumen ecclesie / Tu sis pro nobis / Sedula exoratrix / Apud Deum exaudi / Nos miseros qui te invocant / Toto corte transfer nos / Ad gaudia eterna / O, Maria Magdalena / Cuius cuncta crimina / Divina lavit gratia / Jesum Cristum pro nobis / Impetia ut, data / Venia de hac miseria / Duccat ad gaudia eterna

Dulcísima María, ay compañera mía
Salve La Magdalena mi madre divina
Salve, salve, salve Reina
De azul y blanco va La Virgen
De rojo y negro Magdalena
De azul blanco va La Virgen
De rojo y negro mi morena
Salve Reina
Salve Reina
Salve Reina

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Sweetest Mary full of grace
(chorus) Hail Queen
Hail Rose of the Heavens, my bright star
Sweetest Mary, oh my companion
Mary we sing to you with lit candles
Hail, hail, hail Queen
Hail Lady of Montserrat, Lady of Miracles
Hail Virgin of Altagracia, Hail my Lady of Sorrows
Hail Lady of Regla, Lady of La Caridad
Hail Queen

Sweetest Mary, my companion
Hail Magdalene my divine mother
Hail, hail, hail Queen
Blue and white wears the Virgin
Magdalene wears red and black
Blue and white wears the Virgin
My dark one wears red and black
Hail Queen
Hail Queen
Hail Queen