Born in Logroño, … Read Full Bio ↴Soledad Bravo (born 1943), is a Venezuelan singer.
Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Spain her father was a Spanish republican, moving to Venezuela with his family when his daughter was still at an early age. At 24, Soledad began studying architecture and philosophy at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, where she also began performing. One year later, in 1968, she released her debut titled Soledad Bravo Canta (Soledad Bravo Sings), which made her a star in Venezuela and other parts of South America. In the years that followed, she cooperated with Atahualpa Yupanqui, Violeta Parra, Gilberto Gil and others, having lived and performed in Europe and the Americas. Her repertoire is a vivid mixture of fiery, vivid Caribbean and Latin rhythms, Sephardic elegies and heartwarming ballads.
Considered to be one of the best voices in Latin America, one of her most popular and best known songs is Hasta Siempre, a cover of a Cuban hymn by Carlos Puebla to Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
Hasta siempre
Soledad Bravo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
desde la histórica altura
donde el sol de tu bravura
le puso cerco a la muerte.
Aquí se queda la clara,
la entrañable transparencia
de tu querida presencia,
Comandante Che Guevara.
Tu mano gloriosa y fuerte
desde la historia dispara
cuando todo Santa Clara
se despierta para verte.
Vienes quemando la brisa
con soles de primavera
para plantar la bandera
con la luz de tu sonrisa.
Aquí se queda la clara,
la entrañable transparencia
de tu querida presencia,
Comandante Che Guevara.
Tu amor revolucionario
te conduce a nueva empresa
donde esperan la firmeza
de tu brazo libertario.
Seguiremos adelante
como junto a ti seguimos
y con Fidel te decimos:
¡ Hasta Siempre Comandante!
Aquí se queda la clara,
la entrañable transparencia
de tu querida presencia,
Comandante Che Guevara.
The lyrics of Soledad Bravo's song Hasta Siempre are a tribute to the legendary revolutionary figure Ernesto "Che" Guevara. The first stanza talks about how he won the love and respect of the people from his bravery and heroic deeds. The reference to the "historic height" could be a nod to the time when Che led the guerrilla warfare in Sierra Maestra mountains against the US-backed Cuban dictatorship in the 1950s.
In the second stanza, the lyrics describe how Che's presence will always remain immortalized, even though he is physically gone. The lines, "Tu mano gloriosa y fuerte/desde la historia dispara" signifies how Che's legacy lives on through his actions and the principles he stood for. The reference to "everything" in Santa Clara waking up to see him could be a reference to Che's famous attack on the city in December 1958, which helped to topple the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista.
The third stanza describes the powerful aura that Che had around him. The reference to "sun of spring" and "light of your smile" portrays him as someone who could bring light and hope to the darkest moments. The final stanza talks about how Che's revolutionary values inspire people even after his death. The lyrics speak of following in his footsteps and staying true to the cause.
Line by Line Meaning
Aprendimos a quererte
We learned to love you
desde la histórica altura
since the historical heights
donde el sol de tu bravura
where the sun of your bravery
le puso cerco a la muerte.
put a stop to death.
Aquí se queda la clara,
Here remains the clarity,
la entrañable transparencia
the endearing transparency
de tu querida presencia,
of your beloved presence,
Comandante Che Guevara.
Commander Che Guevara.
Tu mano gloriosa y fuerte
Your glorious and strong hand
desde la historia dispara
fires from history
cuando todo Santa Clara
when all of Santa Clara
se despierta para verte.
wakes up to see you.
Vienes quemando la brisa
You come burning the breeze
con soles de primavera
with spring suns
para plantar la bandera
to plant the flag
con la luz de tu sonrisa.
with the light of your smile.
Tu amor revolucionario
Your revolutionary love
te conduce a nueva empresa
leads you to a new enterprise
donde esperan la firmeza
where they await the firmness
de tu brazo libertario.
of your liberating arm.
Seguiremos adelante
We will continue forward
como junto a ti seguimos
as we continue alongside you
y con Fidel te decimos:
and with Fidel, we say to you:
¡ Hasta Siempre Comandante!
Forever Commander!
Aquí se queda la clara,
Here remains the clarity,
la entrañable transparencia
the endearing transparency
de tu querida presencia,
of your beloved presence,
Comandante Che Guevara.
Commander Che Guevara.
Contributed by Leo G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.