Mi verso es un ciervo herido

Guantanamera. I love this song--no, I mean I love this song.  Me gusta esta canción!  I had not heard it since I was very young, but this time I really listened and found the English translation.  When I listened to the song a second time last night, I felt a surge of emotion that only great art can draw from us.

Apparently, the song has a very complicated and interesting history, as explained by this Wiki article (Wiki has become the Delphi Oracle of our day :) Guantanamera.  It seems that the song was originally written by a Cuban man to express his heartbreak from being rejected by 'the woman from Guantánamo.'  Interestingly, when the folk legend Pete Seeger created the definitive arrangement for The Sandpipers' exquisite recording of the song, he chose to omit most of the romantic aspects of the lyrics and what resulted was a gentle folk ballad about a impoverished Cuban poet, singing his corazón out. The Sandpipers' sweet voices and perfect harmony make it, in my opinion the best rendition of the song--and as you can see in the Wiki, about 50 artists have recorded the song, including such giants as Joan Baez and Bobby Darin.  It was also translated into Italian and sung by many Italian vocalists.  For a time it placed in the top ten of both US and UK charts. 

But enough of my jabbering, below you'll find the lyrics--both Spanish and English.  Listen carefully and let the song flow over you and into your soul.

Songwriters
JOSE MARTI, PETE SEEGER, JULIAN ORBON, J. FERNANDEZ DIAZ

Published by
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY, SOCIEDAD GENERAL DE AUTORES DE ESPANA S G A E

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma
Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmín encendido
Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmín encendido
Mi verso es un ciervo herido
Que busca en el monte amparo

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
El arroyo de la sierra
Me complace más que el mar

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

 Trascrizione all'ascolto di Lorenzo Masetti

I am a truthful man
from the land of the palm trees
and before dying
I want to share these poems of my soul

My poems are soft green
My poems are also flaming crimson
My poems are like a wounded fawn
seeking refuge in the forest

With the poor people of this Earth
I want to share my fate
The stream of the mountain
pleases me more than the sea.