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.
Soldado aprende a tirar
Daniel Viglietti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tú no me vayas a herir,
que hay mucho que caminar.
¡Desde abajo has de tirar,
si no me quieres herir!
Abajo estoy yo contigo,
soldado amigo.
sobre el lodo.
Para abajo, no,
que allí estoy yo.
Soldado, aprende a tirar:
tú no me vayas a herir,
que hay mucho que caminar.
The song "Soldado aprende a tirar" by Daniel Viglietti is a call to action directed towards a soldier. The lyrics urge the soldier to learn how to shoot a gun without causing any harm in order to reach a common goal. The song begins with a warning to not hurt the singer since there is still a long way to go. The line "tú no me vayas a herir, que hay mucho que caminar" translates to "do not hurt me, there is a lot to walk."
The song has a conversational tone as the singer, who is presumably not a soldier, empathizes with the soldier, telling them that they are in the same boat. The lines "Abajo estoy yo contigo, soldado amigo. Abajo, codo con codo, sobre el lodo" can be translated to "I am down here with you, soldier friend. Down, elbow to elbow, in the mud." The singer creates a sense of camaraderie with the soldier, emphasizing that they are both struggling together.
The chorus repeats the initial call to action, reminding the soldier to aim downward and learn how to shoot without harm. The line "Para abajo, no, que allí estoy yo" translates to "not down there, as that is where I am." The song ends with a final reminder to the soldier that there is still much to accomplish and that they must learn to shoot properly.
Overall, the song is a powerful plea for peace and cooperation, emphasizing that by working together towards a common goal, we can achieve great things.
Line by Line Meaning
Soldado, aprende a tirar:
Soldier, learn to shoot:
tú no me vayas a herir,
don't hurt me,
que hay mucho que caminar.
there's a lot of ground to cover.
¡Desde abajo has de tirar,
You must shoot from below,
si no me quieres herir!
if you don't want to harm me!
Abajo estoy yo contigo,
I am down there with you,
soldado amigo.
my friend soldier.
Abajo, codo con codo,
Down there, elbow to elbow,
sobre el lodo.
on the mud.
Para abajo, no,
Not down there,
que allí estoy yo.
I am there.
Soldado, aprende a tirar:
Soldier, learn to shoot:
tú no me vayas a herir,
don't hurt me,
que hay mucho que caminar.
there's a lot of ground to cover.
Contributed by Harper H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.