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.
Duerme Negrito
Daniel Viglietti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
que tu mama está en el campo, negrito...
Duerme, duerme negrito,
que tu mama está en el campo, Movila...
Te va a traer codornices para ti,
te va a traer rica fruta para ti,
te va a traer muchas cosas para ti.
Y si negro no se duerme,
viene diablo blanco
y ¡zas! le come la patita,
¡chacapumba, chacapún…!
Duerme, duerme negrito,
que tu mama está en el campo, negrito...
Trabajando,
trabajando duramente, trabajando sí,
trabajando y no le pagan, trabajando sí,
trabajando y va tosiendo, trabajando sí,
trabajando y va de luto, trabajando sí,
pa'l negrito chiquitito, trabajando sí,
pa'l negrito chiquitito, trabajando sí,
no le pagan sí, va tosiendo sí
va de luto sí, duramente sí.
Duerme, duerme negrito,
que tu mama está en el campo, negrito...
The lyrics to Daniel Viglietti's song "Duerme negrito" are a lullaby sung by a mother to her child. The mother sings to her child, telling him to sleep, as she is working hard in the fields to provide food and other things for him. She promises to bring him quail, fruits, and pork meat. However, she warns him that if he doesn't sleep, a white devil will come and eat his little foot. The lyrics then shift to the hardworking mother, who is not paid for her labor and is struggling to make ends meet. Despite this, she still works tirelessly to provide for her child. The lyrics highlight the struggles of poverty and the sacrifices that mothers make for their children.
The song was first recorded in 1966 and became an anthem of resistance during the military dictatorship in Uruguay. The song's simple melody and powerful lyrics made it a popular protest song for workers, students, and political activists. The song's popularity spread throughout Latin America and became a symbol of solidarity and social justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Duerme, duerme negrito,
Sleep, sleep little black one,
que tu mama está en el campo, negrito...
your mother is in the countryside, little black one...
Te va a traer codornices para ti,
She will bring quails for you,
te va a traer rica fruta para ti,
She will bring delicious fruits for you,
te va a traer carne de cerdo para ti.
She will bring pork meat for you.
te va a traer muchas cosas para ti.
She will bring many things for you.
Y si negro no se duerme,
And if the little black one doesn't fall asleep,
viene diablo blanco
the devil comes as a white man
y ¡zas! le come la patita,
and snatches his leg,
¡chacapumba, chacapún…!
chacapumba, chacapún…!
Trabajando,
Working,
trabajando duramente, trabajando sí,
working tirelessly, yes,
trabajando y no le pagan, trabajando sí,
working and not getting paid, yes,
trabajando y va tosiendo, trabajando sí,
working and coughing, yes,
trabajando y va de luto, trabajando sí,
working and dressed in mourning, yes,
pa'l negrito chiquitito, trabajando sí,
for the little black one, working, yes,
pa'l negrito chiquitito, trabajando sí,
for the little black one, working, yes,
no le pagan sí, va tosiendo sí
not getting paid, coughing
va de luto sí, duramente sí.
dressed in mourning, working hard.
Duerme, duerme negrito,
Sleep, sleep little black one,
que tu mama está en el campo, negrito...
your mother is in the countryside, little black one...
Contributed by Isaiah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.