El Gavilán
Anita Valiente Lyrics

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Si el gavilán se comiera,
oyelo bien como se come el ganao. (Bis)
Ya yo me hubiera comido, al gavilán colorao.
Gavilán pío, pío, gavilán tao, tao. (Bis)
Ese gavilán primito,
oyelo bien pequeño y muy volador. (Bis)
Que se remonta a lo alto pa' divisar el pichón.
Gavilán pío, pío, gavilán tao, tao. (Bis)

Canoero del Rio Arauca,
del Rio Arauca pásame pa'l otro lao. (Bis)
Que me viene persiguiendo
el gavilán colorao.
Gavilán pío, pío, gavilán tao, tao. (Bis)
En la barranca de Apure,
oyelo bien suspiraba un gavilán. (Bis)
Y en el suspiro decía:

Muchachas de Camaguán.
Gavilán pío, pío, gavilán tao, tao. (Bis)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "El Gavilán" by Anita Valiente tell a story about a hawk and its actions. The first verse sets the tone by stating that if the hawk were to eat, it would consume the livestock in a particular way. The repetition emphasizes the significance of this statement.

In the next verse, the singer expresses a desire to have already eaten the red hawk, emphasizing its color. The hawk is described as making sounds like "pio" and "tao," perhaps mimicking the bird's calls. This line suggests that the singer has a personal grievance or motive to consume the hawk.

The following verse portrays the hawk as a small and very agile bird that flies high to spot its prey, particularly young birds, or "pichones." The repetition of the hawk's sounds implies its continuous presence or influence in the singer's life.

The fourth verse introduces a new character, the "Canoero del Rio Arauca," a boatman from the Arauca River. The singer requests help from the boatman to cross to the other side of the river, as they are being pursued by the red hawk. This adds a sense of urgency and danger to the narrative.

The final verse presents a scene in the Apure riverside, where a hawk is heard sighing. The hawk's sigh carries a message for the girls from Camaguán, a specific location it is calling out to. This possibly symbolizes a warning or message intended for the girls and implies an ongoing connection or communication between the hawk and them.

Overall, the lyrics of "El Gavilán" depict a dynamic relationship between the singer and the hawk. The hawk is portrayed as a threatening presence that is being pursued and whose actions have consequences. The repetitive nature of the song helps to emphasize the intensity and persistence of the hawk's presence in the singer's life.

Line by Line Meaning

Si el gavilán se comiera,
If the hawk were to eat,

oyelo bien como se come el ganao. (Bis)
listen well to how it devours the cattle.

Ya yo me hubiera comido, al gavilán colorao.
I would have already eaten the colored hawk.

Gavilán pío, pío, gavilán tao, tao. (Bis)
Hawk chirping, chirping, hawk silent, silent.

Ese gavilán primito,
That little hawk,

oyelo bien pequeño y muy volador. (Bis)
listen well, small and very agile.

Que se remonta a lo alto pa' divisar el pichón.
He soars high to spot the fledgling.

Canoero del Rio Arauca,
Canoeist of the Arauca River,

del Rio Arauca pásame pa'l otro lao. (Bis)
cross me to the other side of the Arauca River.

Que me viene persiguiendo
Because the colored hawk is pursuing me,

el gavilán colorao.
the colored hawk.