Music

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot
remain silent. ” ― Victor Hugo

Gracias a la Vida (Thank You to Life)

Gracias a la Vida was written and sung by Violeta Parra, a Chilean composer, songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist. She set the basis for "Chilean' New Song", the Nueva canción chilena, a renewal and a reinvention of Chilean folk music which would extend its sphere of influence outside Chile.

In 2011, Andrés Wood directed a biopic about her, titled Violeta se fue a los Cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven). The film is based on a biography, written by Ángel Parra, Violeta's son with Luis Cereceda Arenas. Parra collaborated on the film, The film was selected as the Chilean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. It was awarded the World Cinema Jury Prize (Dramatic) at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

Her most renowned song, Gracias a la Vida (Thanks to Life), was popularized throughout Latin America by Mercedes Sosa, in Brazil by Elis Regina, and later in the US by Joan Baez. It remains one of the most covered Latin American songs in history. Other notable covers of this tragic, but widely beloved, folk anthem include the Italian guitar-vocal solo of Adriana Mezzadri and La Oreja de Van Gogh at the 2005 Viña del Mar International Song Festival.

"Gracias a la vida" was written and recorded in 1964-65 following Parra's separation with her long-time partner. It was released in Las Últimas Composiciones (1966), the last album Parra published before ending her life by suicide in 1967. "Parra's lyricism is ambiguous; at face value, the song may be read as a romantic celebration of life and individual experience, however the circumstances surrounding the song suggest that Parra also intended the song as a sort of suicide note, thanking life for all it has given her. It may even be read as ironic, pointing out that a life full of good health, opportunity and worldly experience may not offer any consolation to grief and the contradictory nature of the human condition."

Like Parra herself, the song is beautiful and full of emotion. Though it is truly a thank you to life, the song also expresses a deep and soulful longing.

Gracias a la Vida

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 ancho 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,
Martillos, 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 el 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 montanas y llanos
Y la casa tuya tu calle y tu patio

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me dio el corazon 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
Asi 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 que me ha dado tanto

***********************************

Thank you to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me two beams of light, that when opened,
Can perfectly distinguish black from white.
And in the sky above, her starry backdrop,
And from within the multitude, the one that I love.

Thank you to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me an ear that, in all of its width
Records— night and day—crickets and canaries,
Hammers and turbines and bricks and storms,
And the tender voice of my beloved.

Thank you to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me sound and the alphabet.
With them the words that I think and declare:
“Mother,” “Friend,” “Brother” and the light shining.
The route of the soul from which comes love.

Thank you to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me the ability to walk with my tired feet.
With them I have traversed cities and puddles
Valleys and deserts, mountains and plains.
And your house, your street and your patio.

Thank you to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me a heart, that causes my frame to shudder,
When I see the fruit of the human brain,
When I see good so far from bad,
When I see within the clarity of your eyes.

Thank you to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me laughter and it gave me longing.
With them I distinguish happiness and pain—
The two materials from which my songs are formed,
And your song, as well, which is the same song.
And everyone’s song, which is my very song.

Please respect the copyright of my work. I'm happy to share it,

but if you'd like to use it, please ask permission and credit the

work to me, along with a link to this website.

Thanks


				*Music*



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		“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. ” ― Victor Hugo



		Gracias a la Vida (Thank You to Life) Gracias a la Vida was written and sung by Violeta Parra, a Chilean composer, songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist. She set the basis for "Chilean' New Song", the Nueva canción chilena, a renewal and a reinvention of Chilean folk music which would extend its sphere of influence outside Chile. In 2011, Andrés Wood directed a biopic about her, titled Violeta se fue a los Cielos (Violeta Went to Heaven). The film is based on a biography, written by Ángel Parra, Violeta's son with Luis Cereceda Arenas. Parra collaborated on the film, The film was selected as the Chilean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. It was awarded the World Cinema Jury Prize (Dramatic) at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Her most renowned song, Gracias a la Vida (Thanks to Life), was popularized throughout Latin America by Mercedes Sosa, in Brazil by Elis Regina, and later in the US by Joan Baez. It remains one of the most covered Latin American songs in history. Other notable covers of this tragic, but widely beloved, folk anthem include the Italian guitar-vocal solo of Adriana Mezzadri and La Oreja de Van Gogh at the 2005 Viña del Mar International Song Festival. "Gracias a la vida" was written and recorded in 1964-65 following Parra's separation with her long-time partner. It was released in Las Últimas Composiciones (1966), the last album Parra published before ending her life by suicide in 1967. "Parra's lyricism is ambiguous; at face value, the song may be read as a romantic celebration of life and individual experience, however the circumstances surrounding the song suggest that Parra also intended the song as a sort of suicide note, thanking life for all it has given her. It may even be read as ironic, pointing out that a life full of good health, opportunity and worldly experience may not offer any consolation to grief and the contradictory nature of the human condition." Like Parra herself, the song is beautiful and full of emotion. Though it is truly a thank you to life, the song also expresses a deep and soulful longing.


								Gracias a la Vida/Violeta Parra Enter content here



		Gracias a la Vida 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 ancho 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, Martillos, 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 el 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 montanas y llanos Y la casa tuya tu calle y tu patio Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto Me dio el corazon 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 Asi 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 que me ha dado tanto ********************************* Thank you to life, which has given me so much. It gave me two beams of light, that when opened, Can perfectly distinguish black from white. And in the sky above, her starry backdrop, And from within the multitude, the one that I love. Thank you to life, which has given me so much. It gave me an ear that, in all of its width Records— night and day—crickets and canaries, Hammers and turbines and bricks and storms, And the tender voice of my beloved. Thank you to life, which has given me so much. It gave me sound and the alphabet. With them the words that I think and declare: “Mother,” “Friend,” “Brother” and the light shining. The route of the soul from which comes love. Thank you to life, which has given me so much. It gave me the ability to walk with my tired feet. With them I have traversed cities and puddles Valleys and deserts, mountains and plains. And your house, your street and your patio. Thank you to life, which has given me so much. It gave me a heart, that causes my frame to shudder, When I see the fruit of the human brain, When I see good so far from bad, When I see within the clarity of your eyes. Thank you to life, which has given me so much. It gave me laughter and it gave me longing. With them I distinguish happiness and pain— The two materials from which my songs are formed, And your song, as well, which is the same song. And everyone’s song, which is my very song. Please respect the copyright of my work. I'm happy to share it, but if you'd like to use it, please ask permission and credit the work to me, along with a link to this website. Thanks**