10.7.18 Interpretation of "Guantanamera" by The Sandpipers

Song:                  Guantanamera

Artist:                 Sandpipers (Originally belonged to The Weavers 1963)

Year:                   1966

Trivia:                 Noted patriotic song of Cuba

Source:               Old cassette titled "Mementoes"

Language:          Spanish

Summary: Be honest and do your part in saving the world by helping the poor.

Lyrics:

Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
 

Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carm? N encendido
Mi verso es un ciervo herido
Que busca en el monte amparo
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
 

Cultivo una rosa blanca
En julio como en enero
Para el amigo sincero
Que me da su mano franca
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
 

Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
El arroyo de la sierra
Me complace m? S que el mar
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

English Translation:

I am a truthful man,
From the land of the palm.
Before dying, I want to
Share these poems of my soul.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera

My verses are light green,
But they are also flaming red.
My verses are like a wounded fawn,
Seeking refuge in the mountain.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera

I cultivate a white rose
In June and in January
For the sincere friend
Who gives me his hand.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera

And for the cruel one who would tear out
This heart with which I live.
I cultivate neither thistles nor nettles
I cultivate a white rose.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera

I know about a fatal evil
Among the unspeakable shames:
The enslavement of human beings
Is the great shame of the world!

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera

With the poor people of this earth,
I want to share my lot.
With the poor people of this earth,
I want to share my lot.
The little streams of the mountains
Please me more than the sea.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera

Interpretation:
I am a truthful man,
From the land of the palm.
Before dying, I want to
Share these poems of my soul.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera from Guantánamo, feminine" indicating a woman from Guantánamo.

The person is from CUBA, where palm trees are abundant. He\She has lead a peaceful and truthful life. He wants to convey the beauty of life with his poems.
 
My verses are light green,
But they are also flaming red.
My verses are like a wounded fawn,
Seeking refuge in the mountain.
His thoughts\ideas are peaceful and some of them are wild. Few are lost and disproved, which are seeking refuge and he is helping them rebuild , providing all the necessary time and effort that is required to renovate it.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera

I cultivate a white rose
In June and in January
For the sincere friend
Who gives me his hand.


And for the cruel one who would tear out
This heart with which I live.
I cultivate neither thistles nor nettles
I cultivate a white rose.
Friendship he offers is pure, it takes time to cultivate true friendship but and would take a lot to break it. He strongly believes in returning good for bad. In hope that bad can be defeated by good.
 
I know about a fatal evil
Among the unspeakable shames:
The enslavement of human beings
Is the great shame of the world!

With the poor people of this earth,
I want to share my lot.
With the poor people of this earth,
I want to share my lot.
The little streams of the mountains
Please me more than the sea.

He regrets not able to do much about the evil that exists in the world. Terrible things that happen to good and innocent people should be prevented. Sadly we are very far from a peaceful world, which is of great shame to us humans.

He wants to share whatever he has left from his life to the poor people. Wanting to do everything possible from his end to make the lives of the poor\suffering a little better. Seeking pleasure in the small joys of life rather than the multitude of wealth.

Cover:

References:

Song played in the background in the God Father movie. 

Common chant in football "One David Beckham" or One "Insert name of player here"