Comments on: Sólo le Pido a Dios: Gracias por la Vida de Mercedes Sosa

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Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:17:12 +0000

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Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:16:47 +0000

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By: JWAbels

JWAbels — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:10:57 +0000

We moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, just in time for the Malvinas (We didn´t use the F——– word in Argentina.) War. It was during that war that I first heard “Solo le Pido a Dios.” It was so powerful! Even though the mainland was never under attack, we felt effects of the war. During the military triumvirate, “La Negra” had to sing in exile, and her songs were not played on Argentine radio, but they continued to be sung in Argentina. After the brief war, no song was more influential in bringing the return to democracy the following year. As the power of the military government crumbled, Mercedes Sosa was able to return to Argentina and sing in public. I wish this song had a simple singable English translation; we could use it.
“Solo le pido a Dios” brings a challenge for the future, reflection on the present, and, for some of us, tears for the past.

By: JWAbels

JWAbels — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:10:57 +0000

By: Anna Almendrala

Anna Almendrala — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:19:59 +0000

Ah, now I know where the inspiration from Juanes' “A Dios le pido” song came from. (another Colombian artist).

By: americagruner

americagruner — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:36:19 +0000

Thank for posting this note about Mercedes Sosa

You're right, her voice and music were wonderful, a poetic expression of the struggle for freedom.

I'm writing another translation of the song "Solo le pido a Dios" into English, as I understand it, I'm from Mexico City and now I live in Georgia. It's an hymn to fight the apathy:

English Translation:

All I pray to God
Is that I won't be indifferent to pain (of others)
that parched death won't find me
empty and alone, not having done enough

All I pray to God
Is that I won't be indifferent to injustice
That I won't be struck on the other cheek
After a claw has torn my destiny

Chorus:
All I pray to God
Is that I won't be indifferent to war,
since it's a big beast whose heavy steps grind
people's innocence

All I pray to God
Is that I won't be indifferent to deception
since a single traitor can do more harm than many people;
May the many not forget it easily

All I pray to God
Is that I won't be indifferent to the future;
hopeless is the one who must flee
to live in a different culture