Yupanqui was born Héctor Roberto Chavero Haram in Pergamino (Buenos Aires Province), in the Argentine pampas, about 200 kilometers away from Buenos Aires. His family moved to Tucumán when he was ten. In a bow to two legendary Incan kings, he adopted the stage name Atahualpa Yupanqui, which became famous the world over.
In his early years, Yupanqui travelled extensively through the northwest of Argentina and the Altiplano studying the indigenous culture. He also became radicalized and joined the Communist Party of Argentina. In 1931, he took part in the failed uprising of the Kennedy brothers and was forced to seek refuge in Uruguay. He returned to Argentina in 1934.
In 1935, Yupanqui paid his first visit to Buenos Aires; his compositions were growing in popularity, and he was invited to perform on the radio. Shortly thereafter, he made the acquaintance of pianist Antonieta Paula Pepin Fitzpatrick, nicknamed "Nenette", who became his lifelong companion and musical collaborator under the pseudonym "Pablo Del Cerro".
Because of his Communist Party affiliation (which lasted until 1952), his work suffered from censorship during Juan Perón's presidency; he was detained and incarcerated several times. He left for Europe in 1949. Édith Piaf invited him to perform in Paris in June of that year. He subsequently toured extensively throughout Europe.
In 1952, Yupanqui returned to Buenos Aires. He broke with the Communist Party, which made it easier for him to book radio performances.
Recognition of Yupanqui's ethnographic work became widespread during the 1960s, and nueva canción artists such as Mercedes Sosa recorded his compositions and made him popular among the younger musicians, who referred to him as Don Ata.
Yupanqui alternated between houses in Buenos Aires and Cerro Colorado, Córdoba province. During 1963-1964, he toured Colombia, Japan, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, and Italy. In 1967, he toured Spain, and settled in Paris. He returned regularly to Argentina, but these visits became less frequent when the military dictatorship of Jorge Videla came to power in 1976.
Yupanqui died in Nimes, France in 1992 at the age of 84; he was buried in the Cerro Colorado Cementery.
La humilde
Atahualpa Yupanqui Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Carne de la Salamanca
Sangre de algarrobos
Fermentan en mi corazón.
Fiebre de arenas
Encendida en los tunales
Senderito i'cabras
Soy santiagueña
Como el Dulce y el Salado
Nacida en los montes
Creciendo como el quebrachal.
Yo soy humilde
Igual que esta chacarera
Yuyito del campo
Florecido en el salitral.
Soy chacarera
Huella fresca en los bañados
Silbo en los jumiales
Y bailo sobre el arenal.
Llanto de luna
Sobre el grito vidalero
Repicar de bombo
Y rasguidos en el guitarrear.
Soy el recuerdo
Y el sentir de mis agüelos
Arrieros de coplas
Nacidas en el carnaval.
The song "La Humilde" by Atahualpa Yupanqui is a powerful and emotional tribute to the singer's roots and upbringing in the Santiago del Estero region of Argentina. The opening lines, "Soy chacarera, carne de la Salamanca, sangre de algarrobos, fermentan en mi corazón" establish the singer's identity as a chacarera, a traditional style of folk music from the area. The reference to Salamanca, a city in the province, emphasizes the deep connection the singer feels to their home region, while the mention of algarrobos, a type of tree found there, reinforces the idea of their ties to the land.
Throughout the song, the singer describes the rugged beauty of the countryside, with its "arenas" (sandy plains) and "jumiales" (thick foliage). They also highlight the poverty and humility of their upbringing, calling themselves "humilde" (humble) and comparing themselves to the "yuyito del campo" (little weeds of the field). However, despite the difficulties of their life, the singer takes pride in their heritage and their connection to the "carnaval" (carnival) traditions and coplas (poetry) passed down from their ancestors.
Overall, "La Humilde" is a moving tribute to the spirit and resilience of the people of Santiago del Estero, and a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of the region.
Line by Line Meaning
Soy chacarera
I am a type of music and dance from Argentina that originated in rural areas.
Carne de la Salamanca
I have a deep connection to the Salamanca region of Argentina, known for its music and folklore.
Sangre de algarrobos
My blood flows with the essence of algarrobo trees, which are native to the region and have great cultural significance.
Fermentan en mi corazón.
All of these elements are deeply ingrained in my heart and soul.
Fiebre de arenas
I have a passionate spirit that burns like the sands in the desert.
Encendida en los tunales
This fire is fueled by the music and traditions of the tunales, or thorn shrubs found in the region.
Senderito i'cabras
I walk the same paths as the goats that roam this rugged terrain.
Durmiéndose bajo un mistol.
And seek shelter under the shade of the mistol tree.
Soy santiagueña
I come from Santiago del Estero, a province in Argentina known for its rich cultural heritage.
Como el Dulce y el Salado
Just like the taste of my hometown's famous traditional dishes, I am a mix of sweet and salty elements.
Nacida en los montes
I was born and raised in the mountains of Santiago del Estero.
Creciendo como el quebrachal.
And my roots go deep, like the quebrachal trees that thrive in these surroundings.
Yo soy humilde
I am humble and grounded, just like this chacarera I sing.
Igual que esta chacarera
Like this song, I am simple and straightforward in my manner and essence.
Yuyito del campo
I am like the wild herbs that grow in the fields, untamed and free.
Florecido en el salitral.
And I bloom like the flowers that thrive in the salty soil of this region.
Huella fresca en los bañados
My footsteps leave a fresh mark on the wetlands that surround me.
Silbo en los jumiales
And my voice can be heard alongside the singing of the jumiales, or bushes, that dot the landscape.
Y bailo sobre el arenal.
I dance with abandon on the sandy soil that characterizes this region.
Llanto de luna
Under the moonlight, I sing and cry in mourning for all those who came before me.
Sobre el grito vidalero
Echoing the sounds of the vidaleros, or farm workers, who sing as they work the land.
Repicar de bombo
My music is accompanied by the rhythmic beating of the bombo, a traditional drum emblematic of my culture.
Y rasguidos en el guitarrear.
And the strumming of the guitar adds a joyful and lively note to the proceedings.
Soy el recuerdo
I am the embodiment of generations of history and tradition that came before me.
Y el sentir de mis agüelos
And I carry with me the emotions and experiences of my ancestors.
Arrieros de coplas
They were the ones who sang and told stories as they traveled the countryside, like pack mules.
Nacidas en el carnaval.
Their songs and verses were born and honed during the festive times of the carnival season.
Writer(s): Julian Antonio Diaz, Oscar Arturo Mazzanti
Contributed by Isaiah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Solange Voiry
Gran gran siempre Atahualpa Yupanqui ... Todo es emoción, en la guitarra y en su voz.
La Humilde
Letra :
Soy chacarera
carne de la Salamanca
sangre de algarrobos
fermentan en mi corazón.
Fiebre de arenas
encendida en los tunales
senderito i'cabras
durmiéndose bajo un mistol.
Soy santiagueña
como el Dulce y el Salado
nacida en los montes
creciendo como el quebrachal.
Yo soy humilde
igual que esta chacarera
yuyito del campo
florecido en el salitral.
Soy chacarera
huella fresca en los bañados
silbo en los jumiales
y bailo sobre el arenal.
Llanto de luna
sobre el grito vidalero
repicar de bombo
y rasguidos en el guitarrear.
Soy el recuerdo
y el sentir de mis agüelos
arrieros de coplas
nacidas en el carnaval.
(Autor: Julián Díaz)
(*) Algo que me había olvidado de Atahualpa : (Gracias a Georges Mateos por su comentario )
"¡Este hombre tenía buenas relaciones con Francia y su cultura! Fue 'descubierto' allí en 1950 por Edith Piaf, después de haber sido encarcelado dos veces bajo Perón por ser miembro del Partido Comunista (id Pugliese) !!! Estaba casado con una mujer francesa (de St Pierre & Miquelon) que incluso compuso parte de su música para él ... Murió en Nîmes después de un concierto (Salle de l'Odéon)! ... Tuve la suerte de asistir, a finales de los 70, a uno de sus conciertos en la Opéra de Montpellier. Me impresionó la forma en que sus fuertes y bellas manos de hombre acariciaban casi tiernamente las cuerdas de su guitarra ... Aún conservo la emoción ..."
Más en : https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atahualpa_Yupanqui
Carlos Aguila
LA HUMILDE - Chacarera
Letra: Oscar Valles
Música: Julián Díaz
I
Soy chacarera
carne de la Salamanca
sangre de algarrobos
fermentan en mi corazón.
Fiebre de arenas
encendida en los tunales
senderito i'cabras
durmiéndose bajo un mistol.
Soy santiagueña
como el Dulce y el Salado
nacida en los montes
creciendo como el quebrachal.
Yo soy humilde
igual que esta chacarera
yuyito del campo
florecido en el salitral.
II
Soy chacarera
huella fresca en los bañados
silbo en los jumiales
y bailo sobre el arenal.
Llanto de luna
sobre el grito vidalero
repicar de bombo
y rasguidos en el guitarrear.
Soy el recuerdo
y el sentir de mis agüelos
arrieros de coplas
nacidas en el carnaval.
Gonzalo Hernan
qué chabón que no solo era hermoso escucharlo tocar o cantar, si no hablar. un gran artista en todo su esplendor.
Rodolfo Fajardo
Sigue siendo hermoso escucharlo
Hugo Castagnola
Si ya lo creo que si.comparto su comentario
Hector Daniel Pizarro
@Rodolfo Fajardo cantares de la cañadita
Obdulio Jacinto Gomez Carrasco
Un genio.
Obdulio Jacinto Gomez Carrasco
Un genio.
Mercedes Aguilar
Lo admiro, bello el folklore argentino, desde Chile, una Peruana 😍
Carlos Eduardo Carvalho
Atahualpa, siempre. Un abrazo desde São Paulo, de un baiano que aprendió a amar Argentina en gran medida por la música de este artista magnífico
Federico Avalos
- "Le pedimos una chacarera Don Ata"
- "SIIIIII"
Que fenómeno.
Izaias Jorge de Góes
que maravilha, não se faz mais folclore como antigamente, Don Atahualpa sempre viverá.