San Antonio (Anthony of Padua) is an important figure in local folk Catholicism.
Like other Afro-Colombian communities, Bahía Málaga is characterized by syncretic religious traditions that evince the community's African heritage merged with the Catholicism they received from the Spanish.
Songs concerning San Antonio in particular were in the air the week these songs were recorded, as San Antonio's patronal feast day is June 13.
"Antonio tiene un reloj en la mano" is a bunde staple of the Afro-Colombian Pacific.
Like other songs in the tradition of the bunde, alabao, and/or arrullo, it situates Catholic saintly figures in everyday, earthly contexts.
In Afro-Colombian ritual music, the sacred and the mundane freely intermingle.
Antonio tiene un reloj en la mano
Decime qué horas son Antonio
Ya Antonio tiene un reloj en la mano
Decime qué horas son Antonio
Son las 11:25 Antonio
Hora que el niño nació Antonio
Son las 11:25 Antonio
Hora que el niño nació Antonio
Oí Antonio, oí oí San Antonio (x3)
Cuando yo era pequeñito Antonio
Lloraba por mi teté Antonio
Cuando yo era pequeñito Antonio
Lloraba por mi teté Antonio
Oí Antonio, oí oí San Antonio (x2)
Ahora que ya estoy grande Antonio
Yo lloro porque te quiero Antonio
Y ahora que ya estoy grande Antonio
Yo lloro porque te quiero Antonio
Oí Antonio, oí oí San Antonio (x2)
Ay qué linda tu cunita Antonio
Decime que estén ahí su Antonio
Ay qué linda tu cunita Antonio
Decime que estén ahí su Antonio
Oí Antonio, oí oí San Antonio (x5)
Póngale el reloj sobre la mesa
Para ver la hora que el niño nació
Póngale el reloj sobre la mesa
Para ver la hora que el niño nació
Y el niño quiere jugar
Por qué no lo hacen bailar
Y el niño quiere jugar
Por qué no lo hacen bailar
Por qué no lo llevan pa' donde su madre
Pa' que le dé de mamá
Por qué no lo llevan pa' donde su madre
Pa' que le dé de mamá
Y el niño quiere jugar
Por qué no lo hacen bailar
Y el niño quiere jugar
Por qué no lo hacen bailar
Por qué no los llevan pa' donde su madre
Pa' que le dé de mamá
Por qué no los llevan pa' donde su madre
Pa' que le dé de mamá
Y este niño quiere que lo arrulle yo
Arrulle su madre la qué lo parió
Y este niño quiere que lo arrulle yo
Arrulle su madre la qué lo parió
Y el niño quiere jugar
Por qué no lo hacen bailar
Y el niño quiere jugar
Por qué no lo hacen bailar
Por qué no los llevan pa' donde su madre
Pa' que le dé de mamá
Por qué no los llevan pa' donde su madre
Pa' que le dé de mamá
Y jugar, bailar (x4)
Anthony has a watch in his hand
Tell me what time it is, Anthony
Anthony has a watch in his hand
Tell me what time it is, Anthony
It's 11:25, Anthony
The time the child was born, Anthony
It's 11:25, Anthony
The time the child was born, Anthony
Hey Anthony, hey, hey Saint Anthony (x3)
When I was little, Anthony
I cried for my breast, Anthony
When I was little, Anthony
I cried for my breast, Anthony
Hey Anthony, hey, hey Saint Anthony (x2)
Now that I'm grown up, Anthony
I cry because I love you, Anthony
And now that I'm grown up, Anthony
I cry because I love you, Anthony
Hey Anthony, hey, hey Saint Anthony (x2)
Oh, how lovely your little crib is, Anthony
Tell me that your Anthony is there
Oh, how lovely your little crib is, Anthony
Tell me that your Anthony is there
Hey Anthony, hey, hey Saint Anthony (x5)
Put the clock on the table
To see the time the child was born
Put the clock on the table
To see the time the child was born
And the child wants to play
Why don't they make him dance?
And the child wants to play
Why don't they make him dance?
Why don't they take him to his mother
So his mama can nurse him?
Why don't they take him to his mother
So his mama can nurse him?
And the child wants to play
Why don't they make him dance?
And the child wants to play
Why don't they make him dance?
Why don't they take him to his mother
So his mama can nurse him?
Why don't they take him to his mother
So his mama can nurse him?
And this child wants me to lull him to sleep
His mother who birthed him should lull him
And this child wants me to lull him to sleep
His mother who birthed him should lull him
And the child wants to play
Why don't they make him dance?
And the child wants to play
Why don't they make him dance?
Why don't they take him to his mother
So his mama can nurse him?
Why don't they take him to his mother
So his mama can nurse him?
And to play, to dance (x4)
