Guantanamera
Arlo Guthrie Pete Seeger Lyrics


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The words mean, I am a truthful man
From the land of the palm trees
And before dying, I want to share the 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
The last verse says "con los pobres de la tierra"
With the poor people of this earth
I want to share my fate




The streams of the mountain
Pleases me more than the sea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pete Seeger's song 'Guantanamera' are quite profound and can be interpreted in different ways from a personal and societal perspective. The singer, who is from the land of the palm trees, portrays himself as an honest and truthful man who wants to share the poems of his soul before he dies. The word 'poems' is an allegory for his life's experiences and personal revelations.


The line "My poems are soft green, my poems are also flaming crimson" suggests that the poet's life experiences are a blend of both good and bad. Moreover, "My poems are like a wounded fawn seeking refuge in the forest" could imply that his life has been challenging and he seeks solace amidst it all. The fact that he wants to share his fate with the poor people of the earth further indicates that the poet empathizes with the underprivileged and wishes to stand in solidarity with them.


In conclusion, the lyrics of Pete Seeger's 'Guantanamera' depict a truthful, honest, and empathetic character who has lived an eventful life and desires to share his experiences with the world. The song is reflective, and its poetic nature captures the essence of human emotions and struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

The words mean, I am a truthful man
The following lyrics indicate that the singer is an honest person


From the land of the palm trees
The singer is from a tropical region with lots of palm trees


And before dying, I want to share the poems of my soul
The singer desires to share their poetry with others before they pass away


My poems are soft green,
The artist's poetry has a gentle quality, like the color green


My poems are also flaming crimson
At times, the artist's poetry is intense, like the color red


My poems are like a wounded fawn
The singer's poetry is vulnerable, like a fawn in distress


Seeking refuge in the forest
The fawn mentioned earlier is seeking safety in a natural setting


The last verse says 'con los pobres de la tierra'
The final verse translates to 'with the poor people of this earth'


With the poor people of this earth
The artist wants to connect with those who are less fortunate


I want to share my fate
The artist desires to empathize with others and experience life alongside them


The streams of the mountain
The singer finds joy and peace in the rivers and creeks of the mountains


Pleases me more than the sea
The artist prefers the calming nature of mountain streams over the vast and turbulent ocean




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Spirit Music Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Peter Seeger, Julian Orbon, Hector Angulo, Jose Fernandez Diaz, Fernandez Diaz Jose

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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