After participating in some teen programs as a singer/actor, he got the main role in the telenovela (soap opera) "Gallito Ramírez," which made him a famous actor. Later, another telenovela, "Escalona" made him return to his "costeño" roots (he was born in Santa Marta, the same town of the famous soccer player "El Pibe" Valderrama, located in the north coast of Colombia) and mainly to sing classic vallenato songs of one of the most prestigious vallenato composers, Rafael Escalona. The soundtrack of "Escalona" quickly became a major hit in radio and CD sales and allowed vallenato to conquest other colombian cities outside the "costa" (north coast) that hadn´t previously accepted it.
After forming a band called La Provincia, the singer and guitarist began performing a local style known as Vallenato, successfully touring his native country, Colombia, and South America. In 1994, Carlos Vives' "La Gota Fria," became his first smash, climbing on the most important music charts around Latin America. In 1996, under the slogan of Unete A Los Locales (Join the Local Ones), the talented musician created his own label, called Gaira, to promote and give an incentive to local artists like "Bloque de Búsqueda" and "Distrito".
Carlos Vives also hosted an important show of the Colombian TV, "La Tele". With irreverent and sometimes escatologic humour this program promoted the figures of Martin De Francisco and Germán Moure, in a country where criticism has always been divorced of popular jokes. This program was then reborn as an animated version which turned to be the first weekly 25 minute animated series of Colombia and Latinamerica, called "El Siguiente Programa" ("The Next Show")
His style, which mixes vallenato, rock and champeta (an African-influenced music) was then used by several Colombian artists, giving birth to the "Tropipop" movement.
Patria
Carlos Vives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La claridad del alba
Con mi verso sencillo quiero cantarle a mi patria
Porque le debo mucho
Y no le he dado nada
Porque curó mis penas y está herida por mis balas
Yo sé que por la suerte de tus hijos no descansas
Voy a ararte con mis besos para alegrar tus entrañas
Voy a bajar al estero, voy a subir tus montañas
Voy a cuidarte, Colombia, como se cuida a una dama
Porque nunca entendimos
Lo grande de esta casa
Y aunque somos distintos, vivimos la misma causa
Que lluevan para todos
Estrellas de esperanza
Y seamos uno solo para orgullo de la patria
Ya sé que por la suerte de tus hijos no descansas
Te pido me perdones si te dañaron mis faltas
Voy a ararte con mis besos para alegrar tus entrañas
Voy a bajar al estero, voy a subir tus montañas
Voy a cuidarte, Colombia, como se cuida a una dama
Palomita, palomita, paloma del palomar
Paloma del palomar
¿Con quién dormiste anoche? Que no me quieres hablar
Que no me quieres hablar
En el Paso Real de Arauca me salieron a matar
Me salieron a matar
Con una pistola de agua, una bala de cristal
Con un cuchillo de palo sin punta y sin amolar
Y así es como a mí me gusta, y así es como a mí me agrada
Y así es como a mí me agrada
Un cinco a la media noche y un seis a la madrugada
Y el picure con la yuca, y el pan con la carne asada
Y el pan con la carne asada
Que yo vine aquí es pa' fiesta, más le ruego que dé gana
Pa' darle gusto a un amigo y complacer a una dama
The lyrics of Carlos Vives's song "Patria" highlight the artist's deep love and gratitude towards his homeland, Colombia. He starts by expressing his intention to sing to his country with the sincerity and purity of a child, comparing it to the clarity and brightness of dawn. He acknowledges that he owes a lot to his country, which has healed his sorrows but is also wounded by his actions or the actions of others.
Vives then acknowledges that Colombia, as a nation, never rests due to the well-being and fate of its people. He humbly asks for forgiveness if his own faults have caused harm to the nation. This shows his awareness of the impact individuals can have on their country and the responsibility each person holds for their actions.
In the following stanza, Vives uses agricultural metaphors to symbolize his commitment to nurture and care for his homeland. He promises to till the land with his kisses, metaphorically representing love and affection, in order to bring joy to the country's very core. He vows to explore every part of Colombia, from its rivers to its mountains, signifying his determination to truly understand and appreciate all aspects of his nation. His desire to protect and care for Colombia is compared to the way one would care for a lady, emphasizing his deep respect and admiration for his homeland.
The artist then reflects on the collective failure to fully comprehend the greatness and significance of the nation. Despite differences among its people, Colombia shares a common purpose and cause. Vives pleads for hope to rain down for everyone, symbolized by stars, illustrating his aspiration for unity and shared progress that will make the nation proud.
Finally, Vives includes a more personal and anecdotal segment in the song. He mentions a paloma (dove) that refuses to speak to him, possibly representing a metaphorical real-life situation or individual who has distanced themselves from him. He then recounts a dangerous encounter in Arauca, where he was attacked, using powerful imagery to describe the vulnerability and threat he faced. This serves as a reminder of the challenges and dangers that may arise within the country.
The song concludes with a celebratory tone, expressing Vives's enjoyment of life's simple pleasures and his willingness to indulge in local customs and festivities. He mentions a gathering with a friend and a desire to please a lady, portraying a joyful and carefree spirit. This serves as a reminder that Colombia, despite its struggles, is a place of celebration, joy, and unity.
Line by Line Meaning
Con la verdad de un niño
With the innocence and sincerity of a child
La claridad del alba
The clarity and brightness of the dawn
Con mi verso sencillo quiero cantarle a mi patria
With my simple verse, I want to sing to my homeland
Porque le debo mucho
Because I owe it so much
Y no le he dado nada
And I haven't given it anything in return
Porque curó mis penas y está herida por mis balas
Because it healed my sorrows and is wounded by my bullets
Yo sé que por la suerte de tus hijos no descansas
I know that you never rest because of the fate of your children
Te pido me perdones si te dañaron mis faltas
I ask for your forgiveness if my faults caused you harm
Voy a ararte con mis besos para alegrar tus entrañas
I will plow you with my kisses to bring joy to your soul
Voy a bajar al estero, voy a subir tus montañas
I will go down to the stream, I will climb your mountains
Voy a cuidarte, Colombia, como se cuida a una dama
I will take care of you, Colombia, as one takes care of a lady
Porque nunca entendimos
Because we never understood
Lo grande de esta casa
The greatness of this country
Y aunque somos distintos, vivimos la misma causa
And even though we are different, we share the same cause
Que lluevan para todos
May it rain for everyone
Estrellas de esperanza
Stars of hope
Y seamos uno solo para orgullo de la patria
And let us be one, a source of pride for our homeland
Palomita, palomita, paloma del palomar
Little dove, little dove, dove from the dovecote
¿Con quién dormiste anoche? Que no me quieres hablar
Who did you sleep with last night? Why won't you talk to me?
En el Paso Real de Arauca me salieron a matar
In Paso Real de Arauca, they tried to kill me
Con una pistola de agua, una bala de cristal
With a water gun, a bullet made of glass
Con un cuchillo de palo sin punta y sin amolar
With a dull wooden knife without a point or sharpening
Y así es como a mí me gusta, y así es como a mí me agrada
And that's how I like it, and that's how I enjoy it
Un cinco a la media noche y un seis a la madrugada
A five at midnight and a six in the early morning
Y el picure con la yuca, y el pan con la carne asada
And the picure with yuca, and the bread with roasted meat
Que yo vine aquí es pa' fiesta, más le ruego que dé gana
I came here to party, but I kindly request your permission
Pa' darle gusto a un amigo y complacer a una dama
To please a friend and satisfy a lady
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carlos Vives
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GUMAGU
Como Argentino les mando un fuerte abrazo a todos los colombianos! Brindo por su música que es maravillosa! Y me encantaría conocer Colombia algún dia
@sandrajara28
saludos :)
@julianamoreno7099
Aquí bienvenido seras.😊
@paoblanch
Tu país también es una maravilla, soy orgullosamente colombiana y hace poco estoy en Argentina. Ha sido una experiencia hermosa <3
@oscarreescobar7895
Bienvenido!!!! Por aca hay mucho que visitar al igual que tu pais. Te recomiendo las selvas del pacifico colombiano y las playas del caribe
@fmcurrea
Mi hijo se 5 años 😊 le encanta esta canción y todos los días pide que se la deje escuchar en las mañanas antes de salir al colegio 🎉😊
@jennyruiz6397
Mi sobrino es colombiano vivía en villa Pinzón y tenía 17 años hace tres meses perdió la vida en la via mientras entrenaba y esta era una de sus canciones preferidas... Hoy está en el cielo con su bicicleta, mi chino cruzó la meta.
@xportsymas1
Dios les de paz y fortaleza, qué bonito homenaje.
@jennyruiz6397
@Xports Ymas amén
@maribellecastillolopez2524
te amo manita de mi vida como nos duele