Track 1.
Nuestra Señora de Lexington
(Our Lady of Lexington) seis fajardeño

Lyrics: Raquel Z. Rivera. Music: traditional. Arrangement: Bryan Vargas and Raquel Z. Rivera. Lead vocals: Raquel Z. Rivera. Chorus: Catarina Dos Santos and Raquel Z. Rivera. Cuatro, guitars and bass: Bryan Vargas. Bongó and güiro: Obanilú Iré Allende Solana.

Magdalena La Sublime
La Patrona del Solsticio
La que en nuestro beneficio
Con sus lágrimas redime
Su evangelio se reprime
Su enseñanza el mundo ignora
La tildan de pecadora
Cuando apóstol santo fue
Mi María de la Fé
Nuestra divina señora

(Coro) Magdalena La Sublime
Ay le lo lai le lo lei

Llamó Jesús a María
Plenitud de plenitudes
Pura entre las multitudes
La de más sabiduría
El Maestro bien sabía
Que era ella su sucesora
Del rebaño la pastora
La que nuestra paz avala
Mi María de Magdala
Nuestra divina señora

Hija de la humanidad
De la luz la mano diestra
De apóstoles maestra
Camino a la claridad
Suman dos una verdad
Y en ella el misterio mora
Dulce madre redentora
Salve pía Magdalena
Mi María La Morena
Nuestra divina señora
ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Magdalene The Sublime
Patroness of the Solstice
She who redeems us
Through her tears
Her gospel is suppressed
The world ignores her teachings
They label her a sinner
When she was a holy apostle
My Mary of Faith
Our divine lady

(Chorus) Magdalene The Sublime
Ay le lo lai le lo lei

Jesus called Mary
Fullness of all fullnesses
Pure among the multitudes
The wisest one
The Master well knew
She was his successor
The new shepherd
She who assures our peace
My Mary of Magdala
Our divine lady

Daughter of humanity
The right hand of the light
Teacher of the apostles
Path to clarity
Two add up to one truth
And the mystery lives within her
Sweet redeeming mother
Hail pious Magdalene
My Mary The Dark One
Our divine lady



Track 2.
Al pie de la cruz
(At the Foot of the Cross) bomba yubá/sicá

Lyrics and music: Raquel Z. Rivera. Co-produced by Desmar Guevara and Raquel Z. Rivera. Lead vocals: Raquel Z. Rivera. Chorus: Catarina Dos Santos, Alejandro Negrón and Raquel Z. Rivera. Piano: Desmar Guevara. Barriles: Juan Gutiérrez. Güiro, cencerro and cuá: Obanilú Iré Allende Solana. Bass: Juan Carlos Acosta.

Al pie de la cruz, Magdalena
Al pie de la cruz, Magdalena

(coro) Al pie de la cruz, Magdalena
Al pie de la cruz, Magdalena

Divina María Magdalena
Allá en El Calvario, mi morena

Con las 2 Marías estaba ella
Mi santa María Magdalena

Pedro lo negó, nunca ella
Discípulo amado, Magdalena

Judas a Jesús traicionó
Magdalena nunca lo abandonó

Ella ungió los pies del Maestro
Fiel a su Jesús, vivo o muerto

Si los pies de Jesús lavó María
Por ella lo mismo él haría

A la diestra del buen Jesús
Divina María de la Luz

Al pie de la cruz, al pie de la luz
Al pie de la luz, mi morena

Magdalena fiel siempre fue
Divina María de la Fe

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

At the foot of the cross, Magdalene
At the foot of the cross, Magdalene

(chorus)At the foot of the cross, Magdalene
At the foot of the cross, Magdalene

Divine Mary Magdalene
There at Mount Calvary, my beautiful dark lady

She was there with the other two Marys
My holy Mary Magdalene

Peter denied him, never she
Beloved disciple, Magdalene

Judas betrayed him
Magdalene never left him

She anointed the Teacher’s feet
Loyal to her Jesus, dead or alive

If Mary washed Jesus’ feet
He must have done the same for her

At the right hand side of the good Jesus
Divine Mary of the Light

At the foot of the cross, at the foot of the light
At the foot of the light, my beautiful dark lady

Magdalene was always loyal
Divine Mary of Faith



Track 3.
Canción de La Magdalena
(Song of The Magdalene) aguinaldo

Lyrics: Raquel Z. Rivera. Music: traditional. Arrangement: Alejandro Negrón. Lead vocals: Raquel Z. Rivera (odd verses) and Sandra García Rivera (even verses). Cuatros and guitar: Alejandro Negrón. Bongó and güiro: Obanilú Iré Allende Solana.

María Magdalena
Le dijo a Jesús
Déjame morir
Por ti en esa cruz

Por ti en esa cruz
Yo quiero morir
Porque no soporto
Verte así sufrir

Verte así sufrir
Es mucho peor
Que en mi propio cuerpo
Sentir el dolor

Sentir el dolor
Lo haría agradecida
Con tal que no expires
En esa agonía
En esa agonía
Me rehuso a verte
Por eso propongo
Cambiar nuestra suerte

Cambiar nuestra suerte
Me dará la paz
Pues mi carne aguanta
Esa cruz y más

Esa cruz y más
Puedo resistir
Pero no tolero
Verte así morir

Verte así morir
No tiene sentido
Cordero del mundo
Yo también he sido

Yo también he sido
La electa de Dios
Sorda humanidad
Que no oye mi voz

Que no oye mi voz
Ni me quiere ver
Cual hija divina
De altísimo ser

De altísimo ser
Ungida de oficio
Temblando de pena
Ante tu suplicio

Ante tu suplicio
Hijo de la Luz
Déjame morir
Por ti en esa cruz

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Mary Magdalene
Said to Jesus
Let me die
For you on that cross

For you on that cross
I want to die
Because I can’t stand
Seeing you suffer like this

Seeing you suffer like this
Is much worse
Than on my own body
Feeling the pain

Feeling the pain
I would do so gratefully
As long as you don’t die
In that agony

In that agony
I refuse to see you
That’s why I’m proposing
Changing places with you
Changing places with you
Will give me peace
Since my flesh can stand
That cross and much more

That cross and much more
I can endure
But I can’t stand
Watching you die like this

Watching you die like this
Makes no sense
Lamb of God
I have also been

I have also been
Selected by God
But humanity is deaf
It refuses to hear my voice

It refuses to hear my voice
It doesn’t want to see me
As the divine daughter
Of the Most High

Of the Most High
Anointed
Shaking from grief
As I face your suffering

As I face your suffering
Son of the Light I beg you
Let me die
For you on that cross




Track 4.
La Que Sabe
(She Who Knows) bomba yubá

Lyrics: Raquel Z. Rivera. Music: Raquel Z. Rivera and Catarina Dos Santos. Arrangement: Alejandro Negrón. Lead vocals: Raquel Z. Rivera. Lead vocals on bridge: Catarina Dos Santos. Chorus: Catarina Dos Santos, Alejandro Negrón and Raquel Z. Rivera. Cuatros and guitar: Alejandro Negrón. Barriles: Juan Gutiérrez. Maraca and cuá: Desmar Guevara.

(coro) Magdalena bien lo sabe, Magdalena es La Que Sabe

Magdalena es La Que Sabe
Magdalena es La Que Sabe
Flores amarillas
Flores a María
Flores a Sofía
Flores amarillas pide ella
7 granadas para Magdalena

A la luz de una vela
(Magdalena bien lo sabe)
Contemplas tu caravela
(Magdalena es La Que Sabe)
Velos rojos, Magdalena
Velos negros, Magdalena

Ay, mi Magdalena
121 semillas
A la luz de una vela
Contempla su caravela
Velos rojos, Magdalena
Velos negros, Magdalena
Magdalena es La Que Sabe


ENGLISH TRANSLATION

(chorus) Magdalene knows well, She’s the One Who Knows

Magdalene is She Who Knows
Magdalene is She Who Knows
Yellow flowers
Flowers for Mary
Flowers for Sophia
She’s asking for yellow flowers
7 pomegranates for Magdalene

By the light of a candle
(Magdalene knows well)
You contemplate the skull
(Magdalene is She Who Knows)
Red veils, Magdalene
Black veils, Magdalene

Oh, my Magdalene
121 seeds
By the light of a candle
She contemplates the skull
Red veils, Magdalene
Black veils, Magdalene
Magdalene is She Who Knows



Track 5.
Serafín y Salomé
(Seraphim and Salome) danzón

Author and arranger: Alejandro Negrón. Guitar and cuatros: Alejandro Negrón. Piano: Desmar Guevara. Güiro and bongó: Obanilú Iré Allende Solana.

Since Alejandro had done me the honor of arranging four of my compositions for Mary Magdalene, I asked him if he wanted to include among these 7 songs of praise a tribute of his authorship to Our Lady. Fortunately, his answer was a resounding yes. The result is this instrumental piece titled “Seraphim and Salome.” This song could have also been titled “S”: S. for Señora (Lady), for Sofía (Sophia), for Sabiduría (Wisdom), for Serpiente (Serpent), for Santa (Saint)…



Track 6
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



Track 7.
La 7ma salve
(The 7th Salve) salve/pri-prí/aguinaldo

Lyrics: Raquel Z. Rivera and Tanya Torres. Music: Raquel Z. Rivera. Arrangement: Yasser Tejeda. Lead vocals: Raquel Z. Rivera. Chorus: Catarina Dos Santos, Alejandro Negrón and Raquel Z. Rivera. Guitars: Yasser Tejeda. Bass: Juan Carlos Acosta. Balsié, catá and panderos: Joan D’león-Metz. Güira: Abraham Encarnación.

María Magdalena
Al pie de la cruz
Abrazó al Maestro
Y guardó su luz

(coro) María Reina es, María de la Luz

Y guardó su luz
Con dolor callado
Sus lágrimas fueron
Néctar derramado

Néctar derramado
Sobre sus heridas
Que en aquella cruz
Fueron recibidas

Fueron recibidas
Sobre el cuerpo ungido
Y era así que el mundo
Sería redimido

Sería redimido
Al santo evangelio
Que va iluminando
Este tercer milenio

María mi Reina
María mi Reina

(coro) María mi Reina

Ay María
Mmm, María mi Reina
María mi morena santa
María mi paloma blanca
Honda copa de templanza
Firme torre de alabanza
Del olivo verde rama
Mmm, María
María mi santa morena
La Que Sabe eres tú, Magdalena

7 salves de alabanza
Hoy tus hijos a ti te cantan
Tu eres mi morena santa
Amalia Belcán
Ay
Mmm
Son los ojos de Sofía
Que te ven, Santa María
Hoy con flores amarillas
A tus pies morena mía
María
María mi Reina


ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Mary Magdalene
At the foot of the cross
Embraced the Teacher
And kept his light

(chorus) Mary is Queen, Mary of Light

And kept his light
With quiet pain
Her tears were
Spilt nectar

Spilt nectar
Over the wounds
That on that cross
He received

He received
On his anointed body
And that was how the world
Would be redeemed

Would be redeemed
To her holy gospel
That is illuminating
This third millennium

Mary my Queen
Mary my Queen

(chorus) Mary, my Queen

Oh Mary
Mmm, Mary my Queen
Mary my holy dark one
Mary my white dove
Deep cup of temperance
Firm tower of praises
Green branch from the olive tree
Mmm, Mary
Mary my holy dark lady
Magdalene, you are She Who Knows

7 songs of praise
Your children sing to you today
You are my holy dark one
Amalia Belcán
Oh
Mmm
It’s with Sophia’s eyes
That you can be seen, Holy Mary
Today with yellow flowers
At your feet, my beautiful dark lady
Mary
Mary my Queen