https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg6CscmG6-8
How many silly ideas have I heard about this song? People ask, "What is the name of this song?" Every time someone will answer, as if they knew, "Guadalajara." Well, I can clearly hear that it's not about Guadalajara. Nor are they singing, "Guadalope." Neither sing they of "One ton tomatoes..." It's about a man's love for a woman in Guantanamo, Cuba.
What is the meaning of the song "Guantanamera"?
4 Answers
Wikipedia: Guantanamera
"Guantanamera" (Spanish: "from Guantánamo [feminine]", thus "the one fromGuantánamo") is perhaps the best known Cuban song and that country's most noted patriotic song. In 1966, a version by American vocal group The Sandpipers, based on an arrangement by Pete Seeger, became an international hit.The lyrics to the song, as written by José Fernández, are about a woman from Guantánamo, with whom he had a romantic relationship, and who eventually left him
Spanish Lyrics to Guantanamera with English translation.
Guantanamera - meaning "girl from Guantánamo" - is a Cuban song, which has been successfully performed by numerous singers over the years.
The music is attributed to José Fernández Díaz.
And, the official lyrics are based on the first poem of Versos Sencillos - "Simple Verses" - written by Cuban poet José Martí and adapted by Julián Orbón.
Spanish Lyrics to Guantanamera
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 carmín 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 más que el mar
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera in English
I am a truthful man
From where the palm tree grows
And before dying I want
To let out the verses of my soul
My verse is light green
And it is flaming red
My verse is a wounded stag
Who seeks refuge on the mountain
I grow a white rose
In July just as in January
For the honest friend
Who gives me his open hand
With the poor people of the earth
I want to cast my lot
The brook of the mountains
Gives me more pleasure than the sea
"Guantanamera" translates to "girl from Guantánamo." The song was originally written by either José Fernández, who used it in his radio programs, or El Diablo Garcia. Fernández claimed the song was about a woman he was romantically interested in but she only had a platonic interest in him. Garcia claimed the song was about a girl he made a pass at in the street and she reacted harshly, embarrassing him in front of his friends.
Later on, Julián Orbón selected stanzas from four different poems in Cuban poet José Marti's poetry collection, Versos Sencillos, to create the most well known verses. Those lyrics are narrated by a Cuban man who wants to let out the verses of his soul before he dies.
In the second verse, the "light green" may signify farmland, or nature's beauty in general. "Flaming red" may be interpreted as the red triangle of the Cuban flag, blood, or general patriotism. The "wounded stag" is probably a symbol of Christ or Christianity. Thus, the second verse shows that the narrator is hard-working, connected to nature, patriotic, and Christian.
In the third verse, the white rose represents both the purity of friendship and the narrator's appreciation of true friendship. In the fourth verse, the narrator tells us that he wants to join the poor, and that he gains more pleasure from the simple wealth of "the brook of the mountains" than from the immense wealth of "the sea."
The words have more cultural meaning than literal meaning. The song is a symbol of national pride in Cuba and a symbol of peace and justice in the American folk movement. For more on folk music history, visit my Blog - Jeremy Aaron
Thanks for inviting me to answer. As far as I can see Jeremy, Gustavo and Brian have given good and scholarly answers to you question. The only area we could ask for for enlightenment on are, perhaps, the significance of some of the ‘unofficial’ or ‘original’ verses, of which I know nothing, and the genesis and cultural significance of the ‘official’ verses. These latter have been taken have been taken from disparate verses by the noted Cuban poet Marti. Julian Orbón, who selected those four verses was very clever. In selecting these verses he has identified with the working people of Cuba and declared their virtues, which are universally espoused. The promotion of the song by Pete Seeger and others at the time of the Cuban missile crisis must be seen as a cry for solidarity and peace among ordinary people. International promotion by Jose Feliciano and others has helped the song reach its iconic status, aided by a catchy tune and chorus, always lingering on the dominant chord, making us want to sing it one more time. That’s how anthems are made.
Yes as was mentioned twice, it is based on a poem by José Martí, a Cubannationalist poet and independence hero.
In the original lyrics, the author referred to a "guajiraguantanamera" (a peasant girl from Guantánamo), but since the song itselfis structured as a guajira (the Cuban rhythm, named after Cuban peasants), somepeople think that the chorus refers to the song itself (or, rather, itsrhythmic structure), and not to an individual person.
In other words, the words are interpreted as an introduction to a"guajira, Guantánamo-style" (which is part of Cuba -- thus a Cubanstyle).
The song became a popular use as romantic, patriotic, humorous, orsocial commentary lyrics, in Cuba and in the other Spanish speaking parts ofthe world.
Here is the English translation of Guantanamera:
I am a sincere man
From where the palm tree grows
And before dying I want
To let out the verses of my soul
My verse is light green
And it is flaming red
My verse is a wounded stag
Who seeks refuge on the mountain
I grow a white rose
In June just as in January
For the honest friend
Who gives me his open hand
With the poor people of the earth
I want to cast my lot
The brook of the mountains
Gives me more pleasure than the sea
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