Chicha is originally the name of a corn-based liquor favored by the Incas in pre-colombian days. Chicha is also the name of a South American music craze which started out in the late 60's in the Peruvian Amazon. Cumbias amazonicas, as they were first called, were loosely inspired by Colombian accordion-driven cumbias but soon incorporated the distinctive sounds of Andean melodies, some Cuban son, and the psychedelic sounds of surf guitars, farfisa organs and moog synthesizers.
While Chicha Libre’s repertoire has evolved somewhat from the Peruvian canon, the sound and approach are completely indebted to the Peruvian bands it originally emulated. Like them, they use surf guitar, organ sounds and latin percussion to play a mixture of borrowed and homegrown sounds. The borrowings are somewhat different - classical music and pop debris from 3 continents in Chicha Libre's case – but the latin rhythms that form the basis of the music are both as close and as foreign to them as they were to the Shipibo Indians who first took up the electric guitar.
Chicha Libre has performed around the world, including Turkey, The UK, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, the US, Canada and, of course, Peru. They have showcased at WOMEX, in Copenhagen, and Globalfest, in NYC. They have played in Los angeles with guitarist Jose Carballo, of Chacalon y la Nueva Crema fame, in Lima with Los Shapis and in Berlin with Ranil, the legendary cumbiero from Iquitos. They have toured with cambodian psych-band Dengue Fever and shared the stage with bands as varied as Brazilian Girls, The Skatalites, Frente Cumbiero and the Orchestre Poly-rythmo de Cotonou.
Chicha Libre's music has been featured in the TV show Weeds and a Simpsons 20th anniversary special in which they were asked to play the Simpsons theme "chicha" style alongside the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers and ZZ Top. They have also scored a Vaclav Havel play which was performed at Colombia's Miller theater in the author's presence and two Charlie Chaplin films which they performed at NY's prestigious Merkin Hall.
Their first CD, Sonido Amazonico, is available from Barbès Records in North America, Crammed Disc in Europe and Random Records in South America. Their follow up Album, Canibalismo, is out on Crammed Discs/Barbès Records.
Indian Summer
Chicha Libre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We were walking along the beach.
It was on an autumn day so beautiful,
Like those autumn days you only find in North America.
Tu sais, Je n'ai jamais ete aussi heureux que ce matin la,
Nous marchions sur une plage Un peu comme celle-ci,
C'etait l'automne Un automne ou il faisait beau
Une saison qui n'existe que dans le Nord de l'Amerique
They call it Indian summer
This was simply our first,
With your long dress on,
You looked like a beautiful watercolor
Marie Laurence . . .Et je me souviens
(I will always remember now and never forget)
Do you remember what I said a year ago,
Does it feel like a century or an eternity
La-bas on l'apelle l'ete Indien
Mais c'etait tout simplement le notre
Avec ta robe longue,
Tu ressemblais a une aquarelle
de Marie Laurence . . .Et je me souviens
Je me souviens tres bien de ce que je t'ai dit
cematin la il y a un an Il y a un siecle il y a une eternite
What do you think of me when this is just a memory?
And do we still love each other when the love is gone?
All my life I will remember the taste of you,
Long after the colors of Indian summer are gone...
On ira ou tu voudras quand tu voudras
Et I'on s'aimera encore lorsque l'amour sera mort
Toute la vie sera pareille a ce matin
Aux couleurs de l'ete Indien
Bah Oho Aa . . .
Today, I'm far away from that autumn morning,
But it's as if I was there with you.
Where are you now? Do I still exist for you?
I'm like a wave being drawn to the moon. (I look at the waves that never reach the dune)
Slipping back on the sand, I remember the high tides,
The happiness, and the sun shining over the sea.
Was it an eternity, a century, or just one year
Aujourd'hui je suis tres loin de ce matin d'automne
Mais c'est comme si j'y etais.
Je pense a toi Ou est-tu
Que fais-tu Est-ce que j'existe encore pour toi
Je regarde cette vague Qui n'atteindra jamais la dune
Tu vois comme elle je reviens en arriere
Comme elle je me couche sur le sable et je me souviens
Je me souviens des marees hautes
Du soleil et du bonheur qui passait sur la mer
Il y a une eternite Un siecle il y a un an
What do you think of me when this is just a memory?
And do we still love each other when the love is gone?
All my life I will remember the taste of you
Long after the colors of Indian summer are gone...
On ira ou tu voudras quand tu voudras
Et I'on s'aimera encore lorsque l'amour sera mort
Toute la vie sera pareille a ce matin
Aux couleurs de l'ete Indien
Bah Oho Aa . . .
Repeat
Today, I'm far away from that autumn morning,
But it's as if I was there with you.
Where are you now? Do I still exist for you?
Slipping back on the sand, I remember the high tides,
The happiness, and the sun shining over the sea.
Was it an eternity, a century, or just one year
What do you think of me when this is just a memory?
And do we still love each other when the love is gone?
All my life I will remember the taste of you
Long after the colors of Indian summer are gone...
The lyrics of Chicha Libre's song Indian Summer are full of nostalgia and longing for a past love. The memories of a beautiful autumn day spent walking along the beach with the loved one are described in charming detail. The singer admits that he has never been as happy as he was on that morning, with its perfect weather and the beauty of the Indian summer. He addresses the loved one directly, recalling the long dress she wore that made her look like a watercolor, and how they called that day their own Indian summer. However, the singer's tone changes as he wonders if the loved one still thinks about him and if their love still exists, now just a memory. He muses that he will always remember the taste of the loved one long after the colors of the Indian summer have faded away. The song ends with the singer still lost in thoughts of the loved one, hoping that they still have a connection.
The lyrics are poetically written and deeply emotional. They capture the essence of lost love and the memories that remain long after the relationship is over. The song's melody is also meaningful, featuring a mix of Latin, folk, and psychedelic sounds that further enhance the sense of nostalgia and reminiscence.
Line by Line Meaning
I've never been as happy as I was that morning
The singer had never experienced such happiness before that morning.
We were walking along the beach.
The singer and another person were strolling on the beach.
It was on an autumn day so beautiful,
The day was gorgeous in the autumn season.
Like those autumn days you only find in North America.
The artist compares the day to the stunning autumn days found in North America.
They call it Indian summer
The phenomenon when autumn weather is unexpectedly warm is called Indian summer.
This was simply our first,
The warm autumn day was the first of its kind for the singers.
With your long dress on,
The other person was wearing a long dress during the walk on the beach.
You looked like a beautiful watercolor
The other person appeared as a stunning watercolor painting to the artist.
Do you remember what I said a year ago,
The artist questions if the other person recalls something they said a year before.
Does it feel like a century or an eternity
The artist asks if it feels like an incredibly long time has passed.
All my life, I will remember the taste of you,
The singer will recall the taste of the other person for their lifetime.
Long after the colors of Indian summer are gone...
The artist will remember the other person's taste long after the Indian summer has ended.
Today, I'm far away from that autumn morning,
The singer is currently distant from the autumn morning they previously experienced.
But it's as if I was there with you.
The singer feels like they are with the other person despite their distance.
Where are you now? Do I still exist for you?
The singer wonders about the other person's current location and if the other person still thinks about them.
I'm like a wave being drawn to the moon. (I look at the waves that never reach the dune)
The artist compares themselves to a wave attracted to the moon, but ultimately they can never reach their destination like the waves unable to reach the dune.
Slipping back on the sand, I remember the high tides,
The artist recalls the high tides while slipping on the sand.
The happiness, and the sun shining over the sea.
The singer thinks about the joy and sunlight illuminating the sea.
Was it an eternity, a century, or just one year
The singer questions how long ago that morning felt like.
Repeat
The song repeats from this point on.
What do you think of me when this is just a memory?
The artist asks what the other person thinks of them when they become just a memory.
And do we still love each other when the love is gone?
The artist wonders if they and the other person still love each other when there is no longer romantic love between them.
All my life I will remember the taste of you
The singer will remember the other person's taste throughout their life.
Long after the colors of Indian summer are gone...
The artist will still remember the other person's taste even after the Indian summer has ended.
Contributed by Brayden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@FlickWikki
Tu sais, je n'ai jamais ete aussi heureux que ce matin la
Nous marchions sur une plage un peu comme celle-ci
C'etait l'automne un automne ou il faisait beau
Une saison qui n'existe que dans le nord de l'amerique
La-bas on l'apelle l'ete indien
Mais c'etait tout simplement le notre
Avec ta robe longue
Tu ressemblais a une aquarelle
De marie laurence et je me souviens
Je me souviens tres bien de ce que je t'ai dit
Cematin la il y a un an il y a un siecle il y a une eternite
On ira ou tu voudras quand tu voudras
Et I'on s'aimera encore lorsque l'amour sera mort
Toute la vie sera pareille a ce matin
Aux couleurs de l'ete indien
Aujourd'hui je suis tres loin de ce matin d'automne
Mais c'est comme si j'y etais
Je pense a toi ou est-tu
Que fais-tu est-ce que j'existe encore pour toi
Je regarde cette vague qui n'atteindra jamais la dune
Tu vois comme elle je reviens en arriere
Comme elle je me couche sur le sable et je me souviens
Je me souviens des marees hautes
Du soleil et du bonheur qui passait sur la mer
Il y a une eternite un siecle il y a un an
On ira ou tu voudras quand tu voudras
Et I'on s'aimera encore lorsque l'amour sera mort
Toute la vie sera pareille a ce matin
Aux couleurs de l'ete indien
@shesdyane
Iremos a donde quieras cuando quieras
Y todavía nos amaremos cuando el amor esté muerto.
Toda la vida será igual que esta mañana.
Con los colores del verano indio
Pfffffffffff los amo, saludos desde Texcoco México.
@ezequielagustin733
Amo estos temaw y los descubri hace poco tiempo nomas
@FlickWikki
Tu sais, je n'ai jamais ete aussi heureux que ce matin la
Nous marchions sur une plage un peu comme celle-ci
C'etait l'automne un automne ou il faisait beau
Une saison qui n'existe que dans le nord de l'amerique
La-bas on l'apelle l'ete indien
Mais c'etait tout simplement le notre
Avec ta robe longue
Tu ressemblais a une aquarelle
De marie laurence et je me souviens
Je me souviens tres bien de ce que je t'ai dit
Cematin la il y a un an il y a un siecle il y a une eternite
On ira ou tu voudras quand tu voudras
Et I'on s'aimera encore lorsque l'amour sera mort
Toute la vie sera pareille a ce matin
Aux couleurs de l'ete indien
Aujourd'hui je suis tres loin de ce matin d'automne
Mais c'est comme si j'y etais
Je pense a toi ou est-tu
Que fais-tu est-ce que j'existe encore pour toi
Je regarde cette vague qui n'atteindra jamais la dune
Tu vois comme elle je reviens en arriere
Comme elle je me couche sur le sable et je me souviens
Je me souviens des marees hautes
Du soleil et du bonheur qui passait sur la mer
Il y a une eternite un siecle il y a un an
On ira ou tu voudras quand tu voudras
Et I'on s'aimera encore lorsque l'amour sera mort
Toute la vie sera pareille a ce matin
Aux couleurs de l'ete indien
@ELMONGAZ
Indian summer se traduce en francés como l'ete Indien, si la buscas con ese título aparece la versión de Joe Dassin como la opción más frecuente. Supongo que debe ser la original, pero no lo sé. De cualquier manera me resulta más agradable esta versión, la otra tal vez es demasiado melosa.
@chulipunk
Flashé que era la de los Doors.
@ezequielagustin733
Jajaja
@davidbarrera4686
Porqué carajos no son hiperconocidos éstos tipos??
@schyzofriend8596
la version original es "l'été indien" de "Joe dassin"
@oscarml
thanks a lot for the information. This is a chilhood song that I coundn't find!!
@ezequielagustin733
Gracias!!