Cielito Lindo

"Cielito Lindo" is a Mexican folk song or copla popularized in 1882 by Mexican author Quirino Mendoza y Cortés (c. 1862 – 1957).^[1] Its title is roughly translated as "Lovely Sweet One". Although the word cielo means "sky" or "heaven", it is also a term of endearment comparable to "sweetheart" or "honey". Cielito, a diminutive, can be translated as "sweetie"; lindo means "cute", "lovely" or "pretty". The song is commonly known by words from the refrain, "Canta y no llores", or simply as the "Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay song". Commonly played by mariachi bands, it has been recorded by many artists in the original Spanish as well as in English and other languages, including by Tito Guízar, Pedro Infante, Vicente Fernández, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Eartha Kitt, Menudo, and Ana Gabriel. It also featured prominently in the iconic Mexican film Los tres García.

There is some debate as to whether the song's lyrics refer to the Sierra Morena, a mountain range in southern Spain, or the similarly named Sierra de Morones, in the Mexican state of Zacatecas. However, most Mexicans believe that this is a misrepresentation of the lyrics and that rather, it is intended as "la Sierra, Morena"; "Morena" is a common term of endearment, and with the comma, it would mean the singer is addressing the woman in the song instead of a specific place.^[2] It has become a famous song of Mexico, especially in Mexican expatriate communities around the world, and is sung at international sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup.