Al Viavén De Mi Carreta
Afrocubism Lyrics
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Compadre, están anunciando
Que ya empieza la jornada bien
Eh, entra el año y sale el año
Trabajo de sol a sol
Y cada día estoy peor
Compadre, que desengaño, bien
Cuando llegaré... cuando llegaré al bohío
Cuando llegaré... cuando llegaré al bohío
Eh, trabajo pa' no sé quien
Que refrán más verdadero
Sudando por un dinero
Que en la mano no se ve, ya ves
Triste vida la del carretero
Que anda por esos cañaverales
Sabiendo que su vida es un destierro
Se alegra con sus cantares
Cuando llegaré... cuando llegaré al bohío
Cuando llegaré... cuando llegaré al bohío
The lyrics of Afrocubism's song Al Viavén De Mi Carreta describe the hardworking life of a carter in rural Cuba. The song begins with the roosters announcing the start of the day, indicating that the carter must begin his work. The carter expresses his frustration with his life, singing, "Enters the year and exits the year, work from sun to sun, and every day I'm worse off, compadre, what a disappointment."
The carter works hard for his livelihood, but feels unfulfilled and struggles to make ends meet. He realizes that his work is for someone else's benefit and that the money he earns is not enough to sustain him. The line "sudando por un dinero que en la mano no se ve, ya ves" translates to "sweating for money that is not seen in the hand, you see." Still, he continues to work, hoping to one day reach the "bohío," or his home.
The song captures the harsh realities of rural life in Cuba, and the feelings of hopelessness that can come with it. Yet, the carter finds comfort in his singing and continues to look forward to a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Los gallos están cantando
The roosters are crowing, announcing the start of the day
Compadre, están anunciando
My friend, they are announcing
Que ya empieza la jornada bien
That the workday is beginning well
Eh, entra el año y sale el año
Hey, the year comes in and goes out
Trabajo de sol a sol
Working from sunrise to sunset
Y cada día estoy peor
And every day I feel worse
Compadre, que desengaño, bien
My friend, what a disappointment
Cuando llegaré... cuando llegaré al bohío
When will I arrive... when will I arrive at my hut
Eh, trabajo pa' no sé quien
Hey, working for who knows who
Que refrán más verdadero
What a true saying
Sudando por un dinero
Sweating for some money
Que en la mano no se ve, ya ves
That you can't even see in your hand, you see
Triste vida la del carretero
Sad life of the cart driver
Que anda por esos cañaverales
Who walks through those sugarcane fields
Sabiendo que su vida es un destierro
Knowing that his life is a banishment
Se alegra con sus cantares
He enjoys himself with his songs
Cuando llegaré... cuando llegaré al bohío
When will I arrive... when will I arrive at my hut
Contributed by Brayden Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@heiniroberts9125
This was in my GCSE music exam lol
@alcavgd6845
shit slaps
@mccullough3359
Same
@dr.preben7542
I ended up here because my british friend says he’s got this for his mock exams
@mechanarian5276
@Dr. Preben what school?
@dr.preben7542
@Mechanarian based school
@marianamawa8169
Masterpiece
@cristobalvalladares973
Una maravilla dios mio!
My god this is art!
@marioz9897
At the "Vaivén" of my tumbril.
Vaivén: Go and return to the same place over and over again
Lyrics: dawn is coming
The roosters are crowing (x2)
My friend, they are announcing that the day of work is already beginning.
I´m work from January to January
and also from sunshine to sunset x2)
And what little money they pay me for my sweat, you see
Chorus: When? When will I get to my “bohío”?
(Bohío, is a term used by peasants in Cuba, to refer to their "choza" that is, a house of straw and wood.)
In the original version of Guillermo Portabales, and in other versions such as Roberto torres, Eliades Ochoa, exists another (and other are missing) verses like:
The year enters and the year leaves
I´m work from sunshine to sunset
And I'm getting worse every day
Friend, look what a disappointment
I work for I don't know who
What a true saying
Sweating for money, that I don´t see in my hands
Sad life of the carter
Who walks through those reed beds
He knows that his life is an exile, but he is happy with his songs.
etc etc etc
Sorry for the mistakes!