Violetta Parra – Gracias a la Vida

What to listen for…

After a short introduction, the famous theme kicks in. Notice that between each section there is a rather fast but short transition. The technique used here is called ‘campanella‘, a bell-like effect for a scale passage, combining fretted and open strings through a unique left-hand fingering. This way, many notes are ringing over the previous ones.

Once the main theme is played, materials of the opening are repeated in a slightly different way to conclude this ‘homage to live’. 

Listen to Single

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 sonido y el abedecedario
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 al bueno tan lejos del malo
Cuando miro al 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

Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He gave me two stars that when I open them
Perfect I distinguish black from white
And in the high sky its starry background
And in the crowds the man I love

Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He has given me the sound and the alphabet
With him the words I think and declare
mother friend brother and light shining
The route of the soul of the one I’m loving

Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He has given me the march of my weary feet
With them I walked cities and puddles
Beaches and deserts mountains and plains
And your house, your street and your yard

Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He gave me the heart that shakes his frame
When I look at the fruit of the human brain
When I look at the good so far from the bad
When I look deep into your clear eyes

Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He has given me laughter and tears.
That’s how I distinguish joy from grief
The two materials that make up my song
And your song, which is the same song
And the song of all that is my own song

Thanks to life