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.
La Tucumanita
Daniel Viglietti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bien tucumana, bien tucumana
Tomate un traguito y vino
Pitate un chala, pitate un chala
Tomate un traguito y vino
Pitate un chala, pitate un chala
La zamba de mi pago
Que el canto sale pa fuera
Pero se queda dentro del pecho
Que el canto sale pa fuera
Pero se queda dentro del pecho
Achalay mi tucumana
La jeta como tranquera
Bracitos de palo santo
Canillas chuecas, canillas chuecas
Pelay mi tucumanita
Si es pura broma, no se ofenda
Verde cañaverales
Cielos azules, cielos azules
Pucha que lindo es mi pago
La Bomba y Lules, La Bomba y Lules
Pucha que lindo es mi pago
La Bomba y Lules, La Bomba y Lules
Pa ofrecerle a mi dueña
Tengo un palacio, tengo un palacio
Con un catrecito y tiento
Cobija y trapo, cobija y trapo
Con un catrecito y tiento
Cobija y trapo, cobija y trapo
Achalay mi tucumana
La jeta como tranquera
Bracitos de palo santo
Canillas chuecas, canillas chuecas
Pelay mi tucumanita
Si es pura broma, no se ofenda
The lyrics of Daniel Viglietti's song La Tucumanita capture the essence of the Tucumán region of Argentina and its traditional zamba dance. The first verse invites the listener to fully embody the spirit of the region by drinking a sip of wine and taking a deep breath in, which is represented by "pitate un chala", referring to the act of inhaling smoke from the indigenous chala plant. The second verse talks about the secret of the zamba music from the area, that despite being sung out loud, the emotion of the song remains deeply rooted within the heart of the singer.
The next verse is a tribute to the women of Tucumán, specifically mentioning the singer's "tucumanita", or girl from Tucumán. The lyrics describe her beauty, with her "bracitos de palo santo" (arms made of wood from the sacred palo santo tree) and "canillas chuecas" (crooked shins). The verse ends with a plea to not be offended by the description, citing that it is only playful teasing. The final verse talks about the singer's home in the region, with "verde cañaverales" (green sugarcane fields) and "cielos azules" (blue skies). The verse ends with a mention of two towns within the region, La Bomba and Lules, as an expression of his love for his home.
Overall, the lyrics of La Tucumanita are a poetic description of the Tucumán region and its music, dance, and people, with nods to its history and culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Para cantar la zamba
To sing the zamba
Bien tucumana, bien tucumana
Very authentic to Tucuman
Tomate un traguito y vino
Take a little drink of wine
Pitate un chala, pitate un chala
Smoke a cigarette
La zamba de mi pago
The zamba of my town
Tiene un secreto, tiene un secreto
Has a secret
Que el canto sale pa fuera
The song goes out
Pero se queda dentro del pecho
But it remains in your heart
Achalay mi tucumana
Oh my Tucuman woman
La jeta como tranquera
Face as a gate
Bracitos de palo santo
Arms made of palo santo wood
Canillas chuecas, canillas chuecas
Twisted shins
Pelay mi tucumanita
Funny Tucuman girl
Si es pura broma, no se ofenda
If it's just a joke, don't be offended
Verde cañaverales
Green sugar cane fields
Cielos azules, cielos azules
Blue skies, blue skies
Pucha que lindo es mi pago
Wow, my town is so beautiful
La Bomba y Lules, La Bomba y Lules
The Bomba and Lules (towns in Tucuman)
Pa ofrecerle a mi dueña
To offer to my lady
Tengo un palacio, tengo un palacio
I have a palace, I have a palace
Con un catrecito y tiento
With a small bed and a lasso
Cobija y trapo, cobija y trapo
Blanket and cloth
Writer(s): Hector Roberto Chavero
Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RougeReno
muyyy buena versión!