Monday, January 30, 2012

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.
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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 carretaThe 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.

1 comment:

  1. Gracias por comentar sobre nuestra rica cultura argentina. Atahualpa es un gran musico y poeta. Le cuento un secreto.... shhhh! Cuando Elder Baudon tenía 2 años, su bisabuelo le enseño esta canción (Los ejes de mi carreta) era muy gracioso escucharlo cantar cuando apenas Habia aprendido a hablar. Me trajo hermosos recuerdos de la infancia de Nicolas. Gracias!!!

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