atahualpa yupanqui

Tomorrow the Argentine Folk Music world, and actually folk music lovers from all over the world will be remembering Atahualpa Yupanqui. He was born in Pergamino, just north of Junin, but just outside our mission boundaries. His name, which is actually a stage name, is a combination of the names of two Incan kings.

He traveled extensively in Argentina, during which time, he developed his genre. Later, he spent considerable time outside the country avoiding the repercussions of the messages his music sometimes provoked. Atahualpa recorded over 12,000 songs. By the 1960’s he was considered one of the most important Argentinean and Latin American folk musicians of all time. However, he went in and out of favor in Argentina depending on the politics of the government that was in power.

  These days, however, his music is considered a national treasure by many.
 

Los ejes de mi carreta		The axles of my wagon wheels
Music: Romildo Risso Lyrics: Atahualpa Yupanqui		Tr. Jake Spatz Recited 18 Jan. 2006
Porque no engraso los ejes, me llaman abandonao; porque no engraso los ejes, me llaman abandonao... Si a mi me gusta que suenen, pa' que los quiero engrasao? Si a mi me gusta que suenen, pa' que los quiero engrasao?		Because I don't grease up the axles, they call me a careless man; because I don't grease up the axles, they call me a careless man. If I like the noise they're making, why should I want to grease them? If I like the noise they're making, why should I want to grease them?
Es demasiado aburrido seguir y seguir la huella; es demasiado aburrido seguir y seguir la huella— andar y andar los caminos sin nadie que me entretenga... andar y andar los caminos sin nadie que me entretenga.		It's far too boring a life to follow and follow the pathway; it's far too boring a life to follow and follow the pathway— to go down the same old roads with nothing to entertain me... to go down the same old roads with nothing to entertain me.
No necesito silencio, yo no tengo en quien pensar; no necesito silencio, yo no tengo en quien pensar... Tenia, pero hace tiempo, ahora ya no pienso más; tenia, pero hace tiempo, ahora ya no pienso más...		I ain't got no use for silence, I got no one to think about; I ain't got no use for silence, I got no one to think about... I used to, but time's gone by, and now I don't think no more; I used to, but time's gone by, and now I don't think no more.
Los ejes de mi carreta, nunca los voy a engrasar.		The axles of my wagon wheels, I'm never gonna grease them again.