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.
Luna Tucumana
Atahualpa Yupanqui Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Porque alumbra y nada mas,
Le canto porque ella sabe
De mi largo caminar.
Ay lunita tucumana
Tamborcito calchaquí,
Compañera de los gauchos
Perdida en las cerrazones
Quien sabe vidita
Por donde andaré
Mas, cuando salga la luna,
Cantaré, cantaré.
A mi Tucumán querido
Cantaré, cantaré, cantaré.
Con esperanza o con pena
En los campos de Acheral
Yo he visto la luna llena
Besando el cañaveral.
En algo nos parecemos
Luna de la soledad,
Yo voy andando y cantando
Que es mi modo de alumbrar.
The song "Luna Tucumana" by Atahualpa Yupanqui is a tribute to the moon in the Tucumán province of Argentina. The lyrics express a deep connection between the singer and the moon, not just because it provides light but because it is a witness to his long journey. He sings to the moon, calling it his "compañera" or companion, who has been with him through thick and thin, especially during the nights in Tafí, where he shared the company of gauchos. The first verse tells us that he does not sing to the moon just because it lights up the night sky but to honor the perseverance and the struggles he had to face in his journey while the moon became a symbol of hope and companion.
In the second verse, he promises to sing to Tucumán, his home province, and the place where he has fond memories of witnessing the moon in all its glory. Whether in times of hope or sorrow, he has seen the moon shining over the fields of Acheral, and this has become a source of inspiration for him. In the last verse, he compares the moon to himself, both wanderers who travel alone but who illuminate their path with song and light. Luna Tucumana represents hope, companionship, and perseverance and becomes a symbol of the singer's journey to find his place in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo no le canto a la luna
I don't sing to the moon
Porque alumbra y nada mas,
Because it only shines, nothing more
Le canto porque ella sabe
I sing to it because it knows
De mi largo caminar.
About my long journey.
Ay lunita tucumana
Oh, Tucumán's little moon
Tamborcito calchaquí,
Little drum of the Calchaquí
Compañera de los gauchos
Companion of the gauchos
En las noches de Tafí.
In the nights of Tafí.
Perdida en las cerrazones
Lost in the darkness
Quien sabe vidita
Who knows, my dear
Por donde andaré
Where I will be wandering
Mas, cuando salga la luna,
But when the moon rises,
Cantaré, cantaré.
I will sing, I will sing.
A mi Tucumán querido
To my beloved Tucumán
Cantaré, cantaré, cantaré.
I will sing, I will sing, I will sing.
Con esperanza o con pena
With hope or with sorrow
En los campos de Acheral
In the fields of Acheral
Yo he visto la luna llena
I have seen the full moon
Besando el cañaveral.
Kissing the sugar cane.
En algo nos parecemos
We have something in common
Luna de la soledad,
Moon of loneliness,
Yo voy andando y cantando
I go walking and singing
Que es mi modo de alumbrar.
That's how I light my way.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hector Roberto Chavero
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christian Cáceres
Yo no le canto a la luna
Porque alumbra y nada mas,
Le canto porque ella sabe
De mi largo caminar.
Ay lunita tucumana
Tamborcito calchaquí,
Compañera de los gauchos
En las noches de Tafí.
Perdida en las cerrazones
Quien sabe vidita
Por donde andaré
Mas, cuando salga la luna,
Cantaré, cantaré.
A mi Tucumán querido
Cantaré, cantaré, cantaré.
Con esperanza o con pena
En los campos de Acheral
Yo he visto la luna llena
Besando el cañaveral.
En algo nos parecemos
Luna de la soledad,
Yo voy andando y cantando
Que es mi modo de alumbrar.
Yuri
¡Maestro! Hoy tuve el privilegio de encontrar dos vinilos en el almacén de mi padre, quien se encuentra hospitalizado aquejado por la COVID-19. Cuando retorne a casa los escucharemos juntos... Yupanqui una presencia perpetua. (Desde Lima- Perú)
Alejandro Ponce
Como se encuentra el actualmente?
Victoria Celeste
@Denis Guekdjian pero no era peruano, era argentino. Quuzás entendí mal lo que quisiste poner.
Joseph Abache
Espero tu papá se haya recuperado
Genaro Marino
Estimado Yuri, espero de corazón que tu padre si se haya recuperado y disfrutalo esta hermosa interpretación en su compañía, aprovechalo ahora que está con vida. Habemos muchos que valoramos cuando ya se han ido, que pecado; yo no tuve la misma dicha, la madrecita de mis adorados hijos partió este 18 de abril del 2021 por el covid 19, no sabes cuanto me duele no por Cumita que quiero que esté en el cielo, sino por el sufrimiento de mis hijos que no soportan su ausencia. Por eso este consejo, te agradezco cuando lo leas.
IvSau
Que se mejore su padre! Mucha fuerza
Mateo Abregú
Atahualpa Yupanqui era el nombre artístico de Héctor Roberto, un cantaudor, guitarrista, poeta y escritor argentino, fue condecorado en Francia como caballero de la orden, de las artes y letras.
Descanse en paz (1908-1992)
elif
Soy de turqia y me encanta esta musica mucho:)
Octavio Canario
@tecno canal fantasma tu novia imaginaria aunque es verdad, ni sabe escribir turquia:v
tecno canal
fantasma😂😂