The group's eponymous album was recorded in March 1996 and released in September 1997, quickly becoming an international success, which prompted the ensemble to perform with a full line-up in Amsterdam and New York in 1998. German director Wim Wenders captured the performance on film for a documentary—also called Buena Vista Social Club—that included interviews with the musicians conducted in Havana. Wenders' film was released in June 1999 to critical acclaim, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary feature and winning numerous accolades including Best Documentary at the European Film Awards.
The success of both the album and film sparked a revival of interest in traditional Cuban music and Latin American music in general. Some of the Cuban performers later released well-received solo albums and recorded collaborations with stars from different musical genres. The "Buena Vista Social Club" name became an umbrella term to describe these performances and releases, and has been likened to a brand label that encapsulates Cuba's "musical golden age" between the 1930s and 1950s. The new success was fleeting for the most recognizable artists in the ensemble: Compay Segundo, Rubén González, and Ibrahim Ferrer, who died at the ages of ninety-five, eighty-four, and seventy-eight respectively; Compay Segundo and González in 2003, then Ferrer in 2005.
Several surviving members of the Buena Vista Social Club, such as veteran singer Omara Portuondo, trumpeter Manuel "Guajiro" Mirabal, laúd player Barbarito Torres and trombonist and conductor Jesús "Aguaje" Ramos currently tour worldwide, to popular acclaim, with new members such as singer Carlos Calunga and pianist Rolando Luna, as part of a 13-member band called Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club.
¿Y tú qué has hecho?
Buena Vista Social Club Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grabó su nombre henchida de placer
Y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
A la niña una flor dejó caer
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
Tu eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
En el tronco de un árbol una niña
Grabó su nombre henchida de placer
Y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
A la niña una flor dejó caer
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
Tu eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
¿Y tú qué has hecho de mi pobre flor?
The song ¿Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? by Buena Vista Social Club tells the story of a young girl who carves her name into the trunk of a tree and receives a flower from the tree as a gift in return for her admiration. The tree symbolizes a sense of permanence and longevity, while the girl symbolizes youth, innocence, and impermanence, driving home the theme of the transitory nature of life. As the song progresses, the tree mourns the loss of the flower it gave to the girl, and questions what she has done with it, representing how our actions can have both positive and negative consequences on the world around us.
The use of nature as a metaphor for human emotions is a common theme in Latin American culture, and this song beautifully captures that sentiment. The emotional depth of the lyrics is further enhanced by the mournful yet lively guitar riffs and the soothing, mellow tones of the singers. Overall, ¿Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? is a timeless masterpiece that evokes a sense of nostalgia, loss, and longing, making it a favorite among fans of Buena Vista Social Club and Latin American music in general.
Line by Line Meaning
En el tronco de un árbol una niña
A young girl carved her name on a tree trunk.
Grabó su nombre henchida de placer
She carved her name with joy and pride.
Y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
The tree was moved by the girl's action.
A la niña una flor dejó caer
As a gesture of appreciation, the tree dropped a flower for her.
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
The artist identifies with the tree and feels sad.
Tu eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
The singer blames the girl for damaging the tree.
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
Despite the damage, the tree still bears the girl's name.
¿y tú qué has hecho de mi pobre flor?
The artist questions what the girl has done with the flower she was given as a gift.
En el tronco de un árbol una niña
The song repeats the opening line to emphasize its importance.
Grabó su nombre henchida de placer
The girl's joyful act is repeated to reinforce its significance.
Y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
The impact of the girl's action is repeated to show its lasting effect.
A la niña una flor dejó caer
The tree's gesture of appreciation is repeated to emphasize its beauty and significance.
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
The singer identifies with the tree's emotions and reflects on the damage caused by the girl.
Tu eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
The singer continues to blame the girl for the tree's pain and sadness.
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
The tree still bears the girl's name, showing forgiveness and resilience.
¿Y tú qué has hecho de mi pobre flor?
The artist asks the girl what she has done with the flower as a reminder of the tree's gift and the girl's responsibility.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Eusebio Delfin Figueroa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@diegomendivil7101
"On the trunk of a tree a girl
carved her name, full of pleasure.
And the tree, touched with in.
To the girl let a flower fall.
I am the tree, moved and saddened.
You are the girl who hurt my trunk
I always keep your dear name, and you
what have you done with my poor flower?"
@justinyi1770
En el tronco de un árbol una niña
grabó su nombre henchida de placer
y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
a la niña una flor dejó caer.
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
tú eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
Y tú, ¿qué has hecho de mi pobre flor?
@ReshiramR52
En el tronco de un árbol una niña
Grabó su nombre henchida de placer
Y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
A la niña una flor dejó caer
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
Tu eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
¿y tú qué has hecho de mi pobre flor?
En el tronco de un árbol una niña
Grabó su nombre henchida de placer
Y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
A la niña una flor dejó caer
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
Tu eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
¿Y tú qué has hecho de mi pobre flor?
@user-fp4bm9uz1k
No tronco de uma árvore uma garota
En el tronco de un árbol una niña
Ela gravou o nome dele cheio de prazer
Grabó su nombre henchida de placer
E a árvore se moveu lá no seu seio
Y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
A menina deixou cair uma flor
A la niña una flor dejó caer
Eu sou a árvore emocionada e triste
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
Você é a garota que meu tronco machucou
Tu eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
Eu sempre mantenho seu querido nome
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
E o que você fez com minha pobre flor?
¿y tú qué has hecho de mi pobre flor?
No tronco de uma árvore uma garota
En el tronco de un árbol una niña
Ela gravou o nome dele cheio de prazer
Grabó su nombre henchida de placer
E a árvore se moveu lá no seu seio
Y el árbol conmovido allá en su seno
A menina deixou cair uma flor
A la niña una flor dejó caer
Eu sou a árvore emocionada e triste
Yo soy el árbol conmovido y triste
Você é a garota que meu tronco machucou
Tu eres la niña que mi tronco hirió
Eu sempre mantenho seu querido nome
Yo guardo siempre tu querido nombre
E o que você fez com minha pobre flor?
¿Y tú qué has hecho de mi pobre flor?
@valentinaiselle3458
Traduzione:
Tu che hai fatto?
Nel tronco di un albero
una bambina
incise il suo nome
piena di gioia
E l'albero commosso
là, nel suo seno
Alla bambina un fiore
lasciò cadere.
Io sono l'albero commosso e triste
Tu sei la bambina che ha inciso
il mio tronco.
Io guardo sempre il tuo caro nome
e tu... che hai fatto del mio
povero fiore... !?
@ramonsalaverria5643
17 veces en mi AMADA CUBA y cada dia que pasa deseo regresar y hasta quedarme alla y vivr mis ultimos años en lo mas hermoso que mis ojos hayan visto. Con todo y sus problemas
@mariadelosangelesguzmanrod5092
Cuando mi hermanito Hector murió,mientras lo incineraban la estubimos cantándola,así lo pidió él ántes de morir.Lo Amo.
@diegomendivil7101
"On the trunk of a tree a girl
carved her name, full of pleasure.
And the tree, touched with in.
To the girl let a flower fall.
I am the tree, moved and saddened.
You are the girl who hurt my trunk
I always keep your dear name, and you
what have you done with my poor flower?"
@lisandrapena6683
Se me llenan de lágrimas los ojos al escucharla . Vienen a mi mente recuerdos de mi tía Alina ensayando esta canción en el patio de nuestra casa con su grupo de invidentes aficionados . Que duro es recordar esos momentos que jamás volverán .
@christian2M
A very very nice song, a poetic parable about love. So touched in my heart. All my love to all Cubans from Romania.
@aes0p895
I feel so blessed by this music. Every single track on this album is gold.
@DreKC
Even though I can’t understand what’s being said... I can’t help but shed a tear. It’s so nostalgic and beautiful.
@user-ct4zv4xf9r
This song is about a failed love
@bryanguillen9167
You should try learning Spanish, it is a truly great language and the culture and people who speak it are beautiful. The language of dance and love. 🇨🇺🇪🇸
@DreKC
Bryan Guillen Yes bro I want to 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻