Gepe (Daniel Riveros) is a singer-songwriter from Santiago, Chile. His reco… Read Full Bio ↴Gepe (Daniel Riveros) is a singer-songwriter from Santiago, Chile. His recordings blend folklore (some clear influences are Violeta Parra and Victor Jara), pop and electronic. He emerged as one of the most important independent artists in Chile in 2005 due to his songs of heightened simplicity and innocence, soothing vocals, and warm and gentle sound. He has released three albums, Gepinto (2005), Hungría (2007) and Audiovisión (2010) and also forms half of the duo Taller Dejao.

Canto de Amanecida Cuculí
Gepe Lyrics

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Santa vi la cruz tatitu
Su mai chura churi tanga
Cuculi culi culi

Santa vi la cruz tatitu
Su mai chura churi tanga
Cuculi culi culi

Agua loma agua y loma
Agua quiere mi paloma
Cuculi culi culi

Agua loma agua y loma
Agua quiere mi paloma
Cuculi culi culi

Una estrella se ha perdido
Y en el cielo no aparece
Cuculi culi culi

Una estrella se ha perdido
Y en el cielo no aparece
Cuculi culi culi

A tu casa se han entrado
Y en tu pecho permanece
Cuculi culi culi

A tu casa se han entrado
Y en tu pecho permanece
Cuculi culi culi

Pajarillo carcelero
Sácame de esta prisión
Cuculi culi culi

Pajarillo carcelero
Sácame de esta prisión
Cuculi culi culi

En pago de carcelaje
Te daré mi corazón
Cuculi culi culi

En pago de carcelaje
Te daré mi corazón
Cuculi culi culi

Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai
Larai la ra rai ra ra

Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai
Laraila ra rai

Laraila ra rai
Larai la ra rai ra ra

Overall Meaning

Gepe's song "Canto de Amanecida Cuculí" is a traditional Chilean song that recounts a conversation between a narrator and a bird, possibly a cuckoo, that sings "cuculí culi culi." The song opens with the singer seeing a cross tattoo, "Santa vi la cruz tatitu," on someone's shoulder blade and continues with the bird singing about its desire for water and its lost star. The bird's song then takes on a deeper metaphorical meaning as it asks to be released from its prison, likely a reference to the singer's emotional turmoil or the political situation in Chile at the time.

The song's repetitive lyrics and simple melody create a hypnotic and meditative mood that reflects the cyclical nature of life and themes of loss, desire, imprisonment, and freedom. The bird's song can be interpreted as a symbol of the human longing for connection, hope, and transformation. The use of a bird's voice also highlights the power of nature and animal symbolism in traditional folk songs.

Line by Line Meaning

Santa vi la cruz tatitu
I saw the holy cross in the distance

Su mai chura churi tanga
With my brown trousers

Cuculi culi culi
The sound of the bird, cuculi

Agua loma agua y loma
Water in the hills and valleys

Agua quiere mi paloma
My dove wants water

Una estrella se ha perdido
A star has gone missing

Y en el cielo no aparece
And it doesn't appear in the sky

A tu casa se han entrado
They have entered your house

Y en tu pecho permanece
And it stays in your heart

Pajarillo carcelero
Little bird jailer

Sácame de esta prisión
Take me out of this prison