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.
Cancion Para Mi America
Daniel Viglietti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dale que te hará bien
Y encontrarás el camino
Como ayer yo lo encontré
Dale tu mano al indio
Dale que te hará bien
Te mojara el sudor santo
La piel del indio te enseñará
Toda las sendas que habrás de andar
Manos de cobre te mostrarán
Toda la sangre que has de dejar
Es el tiempo del cobre
Mestizo, grito y fusil
Si no se abren las puertas
El pueblo las ha de abrir
América esta esperando
Y el siglo se vuelve azul
Pampas, ríos y montañas
Liberan su propia luz
La copla no tiene dueño
Patrones no más mandar
La guitarra americana
Peleando aprendió a cantar
The song Cancion Para Mi America by Daniel Viglietti is a message of solidarity and encouragement to the oppressed people of Latin America to unite and stand up for their rights. The lyrics encourage the listeners to lend a helping hand to the indigenous people who have been marginalized and treated unfairly for centuries. The phrase "Dale tu mano al indio" (give your hand to the Indian) signifies the need for people to come together and work towards achieving a common goal.
The verse "La piel del indio te enseñará toda las sendas que habrás de andar" (the skin of the Indian will teach you all the paths you must walk) is a reminder that the indigenous people possess a wealth of knowledge that can help guide us. It is a call to respect and learn from the indigenous cultures that have been oppressed for so long. The song talks about the struggle and sacrifice that is necessary to achieve freedom and encourages people to take up the mantle of leadership in the battle for justice.
Overall, Cancion Para Mi America is a powerful song that captures the spirit of the Latin American revolution. It reminds people of the importance of unity and the need to stand up for what is right. Its message is still relevant today as people around the world continue to struggle against oppression and inequality.
Line by Line Meaning
Dale tu mano al indio
Extend your hand to the native people
Dale que te hará bien
Do it because it will do you good
Y encontrarás el camino
And you will find the way
Como ayer yo lo encontré
As I found it yesterday
Te mojara el sudor santo
The sacred sweat will wet you
De la lucha y el deber
From the struggle and duty
La piel del indio te enseñará
The indigenous skin will teach you
Toda las sendas que habrás de andar
All the paths you will have to walk
Manos de cobre te mostrarán
Copper hands will show you
Toda la sangre que has de dejar
All the blood you will have to shed
Es el tiempo del cobre
It is the time of copper
Mestizo, grito y fusil
Mestizo, cry and rifle
Si no se abren las puertas
If the doors do not open
El pueblo las ha de abrir
The people will have to open them
América esta esperando
America is waiting
Y el siglo se vuelve azul
And the century turns blue
Pampas, ríos y montañas
Pampas, rivers and mountains
Liberan su propia luz
They release their own light
La copla no tiene dueño
The folk song does not have an owner
Patrones no más mandar
No more bosses will give orders
La guitarra americana
The American guitar
Peleando aprendió a cantar
Learned to sing while fighting
Writer(s): Daniel Alberto Viglietti
Contributed by Evan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike Garcia
Si se vale imaginar ya veo a Viglietti y Benedetti presentándose , acá en la tierra eran dinamita pura uno con la guitarra y el otro leyendo sus poemas.
Buenaaventura Durruti
Hasta siempre, maestro!
José Pamplona Muñoz
Falta la canción “Masa” inspirada en César Vallejo