Letanía

The pedir posada (asking for an inn, a place to stay) is a song that is typically sung in the Posadas— a traditional Christmas celebration in countries like Mexico.

Lyrics

Joseph asking:

En nombre del cielo (In the name of heaven)

Os pido posada (I request you grant us shelter)

Pues no puede andar (Given that she cannot walk)

Mi esposa amada (She my beloved wife)

"Probable" host answering:

Aquí no es mesón (This is not an Inn)

Sigan adelante (Please continue ahead)

Yo no puedo abrir (I can not open)

No sea algun tunante (What if you're a robber?)

Joseph answering:

No seas inhumano (Please do not be inhumane)

Tennos caridad (grant us charity)

Que el Rey de los cielos (Since the God of heavens)

Te lo premiará (Will prize you for that)

Still "probable" host answering:

Ya se pueden ir (You can already go away)

Y no molestar (Stop bothering me)

porque si me enfadan (Because if you upset me)

los voy a apalear (I am going to beat you)

Joseph insisting:

Venimos rendidos (We come very tired)

Desde Nazareth (From Nazareth)

Yo soy carpintero (I am a carpenter)

De nombre José (Named Joseph)

Still unconvinced host answering:

No me importa el nombre (I don't care about your name)

Déjenme dormir (Let me go to sleep)

Porque ya les digo (Because, as I said)

Que no hemos de abrir (We're not going to open)

Joseph still insisting

Mi esposa es María (My wife is Mary)

Es reina del cielo (She's the Heavenly Queen)

Y madre va a ser (And she'll be mother)

Del divino verbo (Of the divine word)

Joseph expects reasoning:

Posada te pide (I ask you shelter)

Amado casero (Dear innkeeper)

Por sólo una noche (for just one night)

La reina del cielo (the queen of heaven)

Almost convinced host answers:

Pues si es una reina (Well, if she's a queen)

Quién lo solicita? (who will ask her)

Cómo es que de noche (how is it that at night)

Anda tan solita? (she travels so alone)