His first songs (Orden del Día and Río Quibú), were performed and brought to fame by other groups, but later on he sang his own songs. He has sung in more than 120 cities, in over a dozen countries, and his music has been used as soundtrack for radio, television and cinema.
His songs are remarkable because of their lyrics, and speak about love, social affairs and deeply ironic criticism of current Cuban politics and society.
La guerrillera frustrada
Frank Delgado Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
es que te queda chiquito el término progresista
y te hubiera gustado ser Comandante Uno del frente Sandinista.
A ti lo que te pasa
es que ser progre en los bares a veces no te pega
y te hubiera gustado bajar de las montañas junto a Daniel Ortega.
A ti lo que te pasa
es que el alcohol y la mierda te sacan de este mundo
A ti lo que te pasa
es que Fidel y Guevara no te dejaron muestras.
A ti lo que te pasa
es que tú llegaste tarde a la Sierra Maestra.
No hay nada que hacer
si en el mundo no se es guerrillero
son vaca sagrada.
Y tú no eres, mi amor
más que una guerrillera frustrada.
Así que quédate en tu cama
como una vaca profana.
No hay nada que hacer
los ex guerrilleros se presentan a las elecciones
pero si lo que tú quieres es justicia y emociones
aquí te estaré esperando
para irnos revelando.
Así que tú no pierdas más tiempo descifrando ideológicas patrañas.
Búscate una pistola, un uniforme verde y algún pasamontañas.
Y cómprate un pasaje, y vete para Chiapas, con visa de turista.
Y pídele una audiencia al subcomandante Marcos, el de los Zapatistas.
Y si ahí te fallara la táctica empleada
y el daun se pone malo
lo único que queda es dorarle la moneda al camarada Gonzalo.
Y aunque no seas Maoísta, y te guste Vargas Llosa
ya yo tengo tu esbozo
de francotiradora, o al frente de un comando en Sendero Luminoso.
A ti lo que te pasa
es que te queda chiquito el término progresista.
The lyrics of Frank Delgado's song La guerrillera frustrada, which translates to "The Frustrated Guerilla," captures the essence of a person who is passionate about leftist politics, but their activism is limited to talking about it in bars. The lyrics speak to someone who fantasizes about being a leader of a leftist revolutionary group like Sandinistas, but they do not have the courage to take action or make sacrifices. The song is critical of individuals who romanticize leftist movements but do not understand the harsh realities of a revolution. It is an ode to the leftist guerrilla fighters who have made tremendous sacrifices in the revolutions of Latin America.
The song references several leftist movements and figures, including the Sandinistas, Daniel Ortega, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador, Fidel Castro, and Che Guevara. The lyrics are a reminder that those who romanticize these leaders and movements often fail to grasp the complexity of political ideologies and the struggles of guerrilla warfare. The song implies that the idealistic nature of leftist radicalism often fails to match the harsh realities of revolutionary movements.
The song also suggests that the best way to contribute to a leftist movement is to take direct action. It encourages the frustrated guerilla to stop talking about change and start taking action. The song suggests that if a person is genuinely committed to a cause, they should seek out opportunities to participate directly, like going to Chiapas, Mexico, and working with the Zapatistas. The lyrics are reflective of the can-do attitude of leftist movements and the fact that revolutionary change requires action, not just words.
Line by Line Meaning
A ti lo que te pasa es que te queda chiquito el término progresista.
You feel limited by the term 'progressive.'
Y te hubiera gustado ser Comandante Uno del frente Sandinista.
You wish you could have been part of the Sandinista front as a leader.
Ser progre en los bares a veces no te pega.
Being progressive doesn't always fit in with the bar scene.
Y te hubiera gustado bajar de las montañas junto a Daniel Ortega.
You wish you could have fought alongside Daniel Ortega and others in the mountains.
Es que el alcohol y la mierda te sacan de este mundo.
You struggle with substance abuse and it takes you out of reality.
Y que nunca pudiste llegar ni a las barracas del Frente Farabundo.
You never made it to the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front's barracks.
Es que Fidel y Guevara no te dejaron muestras.
You never got to meet Fidel Castro or Che Guevara.
Es que tú llegaste tarde a la Sierra Maestra.
You arrived too late to join the rebels in the Sierra Maestra mountains.
No hay nada que hacer si en el mundo no se es guerrillero, son vaca sagrada.
If you're not a guerrilla fighter, you're not seen as important.
Y tú no eres, mi amor más que una guerrillera frustrada.
You feel like a frustrated guerrilla fighter.
Así que quédate en tu cama como una vaca profana.
So stay in bed like a vulgar cow.
Los ex guerrilleros se presentan a las elecciones pero si lo que tú quieres es justicia y emociones aquí te estaré esperando para irnos revelando.
Former guerrilla fighters turn to politics, but if you want justice and excitement, I'll be waiting to rebel with you.
Así que tú no pierdas más tiempo descifrando ideológicas patrañas.
Don't waste time trying to decipher complex ideologies.
Búscate una pistola, un uniforme verde y algún pasamontañas.
Instead, get a gun, a green uniform, and a ski mask.
Cómprate un pasaje, y vete para Chiapas, con visa de turista.
Get a tourist visa and go to Chiapas.
Y pídele una audiencia al subcomandante Marcos, el de los Zapatistas.
Request a meeting with Subcomandante Marcos, the leader of the Zapatista rebels.
Y si ahí te fallara la táctica empleada y el daun se pone malo lo único que queda es dorarle la moneda al camarada Gonzalo.
If your strategy fails and things get tough, your only option is to turn to your comrades for help.
Y aunque no seas Maoísta, y te guste Vargas Llosa ya yo tengo tu esbozo de francotiradora, o al frente de un comando en Sendero Luminoso.
Even if you don't follow Maoist ideology and you like Vargas Llosa, I see you as a potential sniper or leader in the Shining Path.
Contributed by Benjamin T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.