I remember well living in our little bungalow in Berkeley ten years ago and playing a live version of Mercedes Sosa singing “Gracias a la Vida.” Neither Laura nor I really understood much of the lyrics except for the title and a word here or there, but if ever there was an example of the power of song transcending language then this was it. Near the end of the song the crowd breaks into applause as she sings and you can just feel the power and emotion of it all in your gut. Laura and I listened to it over and over and often shed a tear at the end.
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Here is one translation:
Thank you, life, for giving me so much.
She gave me two bright stars, that when opened,
Can perfectly distinguish black from white
And high in the sky, the starry background,
And within the crowd the man that I love.
Thank you, life, for giving me so much.
She gave me sound and the alphabet.
With them the words that I think and declare:
“Mother,” “Friend,” “Brother” and light brightening,
The way of the soul of my lover.
Thank you, life, for giving me so much.
She gave me the wandering of my tired feet.
With them I’ve walked cities and puddles
Valleys and deserts, mountains and plains.
And your house, your street and your courtyard.
Thank you, life, for giving me so much.
She gave me a heart, that shakes its contention,
When I see the fruit of the human brain,
When I see kindness so far from what is bad,
When I look inside your bright eyes…
Thank you, life, for giving me so much.
She gave me laughter as well as mourning.
With both I distinguish happiness from pain –
Two of the ingredients that comform my singing,
As well as your song, that is mine too,
And the song of all, that is my own singing.
Thank you life! Thank you life! Thank you life! Thank you life!
3 responses so far ↓
1 Irene Bosch // Feb 27, 2009 at 9:16 am
Beautiful song written by Violeta Parra.
I found this about her:
Violeta Parra and Chilean nueva canción
To many Latin Americans, Violeta Parra is considere the “grandmother” of the “new song” movement. Violeta Parra, along with her children Angel, Miguel and Santiago pioneered the notion of using what at the time was considered the uninterested and unsophisticated music of the working classes in Chile as the basis for writing poetry in a more “vernacular” style. Although not all of Parra’s music was explicitly political in intent, many of her compsition have been used as part of the protest music in the years following her suicide in 1967. This is particulary the case of the song “Gracias a la vida” which was later popularized by a number of protest music artists including Mercedes Sosa in Argentina and Joan Baez in the United States.
Here the Spanish version:
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
me dio dos luceros que cuando los abro
perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco
y en el alto cielo su fondo estrellado
y en las multitudes el hombre que yo amo
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
me ha dado el oído que en todo su ancho
graba noche y día grillos y canarios
martirios, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos
y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario
con él, las palabras que pienso y declaro
madre, amigo, hermano
y luz alumbrando la ruta del alma del que estoy amando
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados
con ellos anduve ciudades y charcos
playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos
y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
me dio el corazón que agita su marco
cuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano
cuando miro el bueno tan lejos del malo
cuando miro el fondo de tus ojos claros
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto
así yo distingo dicha de quebranto
los dos materiales que forman mi canto
y el canto de ustedes que es el mismo canto
y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto
Gracias a la vida, gracias a la vida.
And gracias David for writing to us!!
Irene.
2 Anita Culosi // Feb 27, 2009 at 1:50 pm
David…I listened to the song…as I read the translated lyrics…and I got goosebumps.
The clairty of her voice…along with its gentleness…the simplicity of the guitar music…and the message of the lyric…all very touching. I am always amazed at your sensitivity. Both you and Laura…a very special couple.
The photo from Hawaii was good to see. I hope you…Lily…and Naomi…are all coping…as well as can be expected…one day at a time.
You…the children…and Laura…are always remembered in my prayers.
God’s blessings on each of you…take care…and thanks for sharing.
3 Heather // Oct 5, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Ms. Sosa died yesterday:
http://www.latina.com/entertainment/music/argentine-singer-mercedes-sosa-voice-latin-america-dies-74