Daniel Viglietti (Daniel Alberto Viglietti Indart, Montevideo, Uruguay, 24 … Read Full Bio ↴Daniel Viglietti (Daniel Alberto Viglietti Indart, Montevideo, Uruguay, 24 July 1939 – 30 October 2017) was an Uruguayan folk singer, guitarist, composer, and political activist. He is one of the main exponents of Uruguayan popular song and also of the Nueva Canción of the 1960s and early 1970s.

He founded, in 1971, the recognized independent record label Ayuí/Tacuabé in order to promote and support valuable Uruguayan musical expressions, along with other musicians like José "Pepe" Guerra, Braulio López, Coriún Aharonián, Myriam Dibarboure, María Teresa Sande and Edgardo Bello,

He has performed the works of Cuban Nueva Trova stars Silvio Rodríguez and Pablo Milanés and Brazil's Chico Buarque and Edu Lobo and has worked with Cuban composer and arranger Leo Brouwer. His recordings are widely available, especially "Trópicos" (1972).

Viglietti was imprisoned in 1972 by his own government. He was supported by the likes of Jean-Paul Sartre as an international man of conscience, a voice for peace, and an opponent of the fascism and tyranny that plagued South America in the 1970s. Rumors about possible mistreatment against him forced the authorities to bring him out in front of television cameras to show that, in particular, his hands were fine. However, Viglietti spoke out that his treatment in police custody was much better than what other political prisoners received. He was a peer of the late Chilean poet and folk singer Victor Jara and composer and activist Violeta Parra.

Antojo
Daniel Viglietti Lyrics

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¡Las cosas que están pasando...!
¡Es cosa de no creerlas...!
Y eso que estuve esperando
Toda mi vida pa' verlas

¡Y las que van a venir!
Carculale, Golondrina que sólo quiero vivir
Para sacarme esa espina

Y aunque ya he vivido mucho
Para esperarlas soy mozo
¡Apuesto un diez contra un pucho
A que las vivo y las gozo!

Voy a sacarme el antojo
Cuando se haigan realizao
De verle a muchos los ojos
Como botines cambiaos

Los piones van a ligar
Serán piones de otras leyes
Porque aura, sin dispreciar
Somos igual que los güeyes

¡Vos vas a ser jubilao!
¡Todo un don güey Golondrina!
Si es que no te han envasao
Como en lata de sardina

Pobre mi güey compañero
Que no puede comprender
Pero me entiende el lucero
Que sabe de amanecer

Voy a sacarme el antojo
Cuando se haigan realizao

De verle a muchos los ojos
Como botines cambiaos

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Daniel Viglietti's song "Antojo" reflect a sense of disbelief, anticipation, and determination. The singer expresses surprise at the things that are happening around them, emphasizing that they are almost unbelievable. They mention that they have been waiting their whole life to witness these events. The lyrics also express a hope for future changes, as the singer states that they only want to live to experience them and remove a metaphorical thorn from their side.

The song conveys a sense of optimism and resilience, despite having already lived a lot and being considered young enough to wait for these transformations. The singer is willing to bet against all odds that they will not only live to see these changes but also enjoy them. They express a desire to satisfy their craving and take advantage of the opportunities that will arise once these transformations occur.

The lyrics also touch on themes of societal change and inequality. The singer states that the workers (represented by "los piones") will benefit from these changes and become part of a different set of laws. However, they also highlight the harsh reality that, despising this inequality, they are still equal to the "güeyes," a slang term for naive or foolish individuals.

Line by Line Meaning

¡Las cosas que están pasando...!
I can't believe all the things that are happening!

¡Es cosa de no creerlas...!
It's unbelievable!

Y eso que estuve esperando Toda mi vida pa' verlas
And I've been waiting my whole life to see them

¡Y las que van a venir!
And there are more to come!

Carculale, Golondrina que sólo quiero vivir
Imagine, Golondrina, I just want to live

Para sacarme esa espina
To free myself from this thorn

Y aunque ya he vivido mucho
And even though I've lived a lot

Para esperarlas soy mozo
I'm still young enough to wait for them

¡Apuesto un diez contra un pucho
I bet ten against one

A que las vivo y las gozo!
That I'll live and enjoy them!

Voy a sacarme el antojo
I'm going to fulfill my craving