Atahualpa Yupanqui (22 January 1908 - 23 May 1992) was an Argentine singer,… Read Full Bio ↴Atahualpa Yupanqui (22 January 1908 - 23 May 1992) was an Argentine singer, songwriter, guitarist, and writer.

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.

Viene clareando
Atahualpa Yupanqui Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Vidita, ya me voy
De los pagos del Tucumán
En la Aconquija viene clareando
Vidita
Nunca te he de olvidar

Vidita, triste está
Suspirando mi corazón

Y con el pañuelo, te voy diciendo
Vidita
Paloma, adiós adiós

Vidita, ya me voy
Y se me hace que no hei volver
Malaya mi suerte tanto quererte
Vidita
Y tenerte que perder

Malaya mi suerte tanto quererte
Viene clareando mi padecer

Al clarear yo me iré
A mis pagos de Chasquivil
Y hasta las espuelas
Te irán diciendo, vidita
No te olvides de mí

Zamba sí, penas no
Eso quiere mi corazón
Pero hasta la zamba

Se vuelve triste, vidita
Cuando se dice adiós

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Atahualpa Yupanqui's song Viene Clareando describe the sorrowful departure of the singer from his beloved Tucumán. He sees the day dawning in the Aconquija region and laments the fact that he must leave, vowing to never forget his "vidita" or little life. The singer's heart is heavy, and he says farewell with a wave of his handkerchief, calling his love a dove. He knows he may not return to Tucumán and curses his luck for having to lose his cherished one.

The song's tone is mournful yet hopeful, as the singer believes that he will see his love again someday, even as he departs for his hometown of Chasquivil. He implores his love not to forget him and admits that even the typically upbeat zamba dance has become sad since he must bid farewell. The repetition of the phrase "vidita" throughout the song emphasizes the tender affection of the singer for his love and the pain he feels at leaving her behind.

Line by Line Meaning

Vidita, ya me voy
My dear, I am leaving now.

De los pagos del Tucumán
From the land of Tucumán.

En la Aconquija viene clareando
The dawn is breaking in Aconquija.

Vidita
My dear.

Nunca te he de olvidar
I will never forget you.

Vidita, triste está
My dear, my heart is sad.

Suspirando mi corazón
My heart is sighing.

Y con el pañuelo, te voy diciendo
And with a handkerchief, I am saying goodbye to you.

Vidita
My dear.

Paloma, adiós adiós
Goodbye my dove, goodbye.

Vidita, ya me voy
My dear, I am leaving now.