Gilles Peterson brings the heartbeat of Havana’s music underground to Europ… Read Full Bio ↴Gilles Peterson brings the heartbeat of Havana’s music underground to Europe for a special tour during November. Celebrating the latest instalment in his Havana Cultura album series, Gilles imports an all-star Cuban live band to inject some authentic Latin flavour and showcase the full spectrum of raw Cuban rhythms, and recruits a heavy line-up of DJ talent to maintain the heat long into the night.

Continuing his longstanding love affair with Cuba and its musical melting pot, globetrotting DJ/broadcaster Gilles Peterson is back with a new chapter in his Havana Cultura album series – producing an original studio album and lovingly curating a compilation of new Cuban talent.

Having spent the last three years travelling regularly to Havana I've understandably become more attached to this fascinating, almost otherworldly city. I'm also slowly getting to grips with the relationship music has here with the spirits and its people... the drum goes deep.
Gilles Peterson

Welcoming a string of guest musicians, vocalists and rappers to Abdala Studios, Havana, Gilles orchestrated the glorious sound clashes that populate the latest chapter in this landmark series, highlighting a clutch of artists innovating in the spaces between jazz, soul, traditional Cuban rhythms, reggaeton and hip-hop. The so-called “Havana Cultura Band” will bring the essence of those exciting, anything-goes recording sessions to Europe, featuring the cream of Cuban artists… the full rainbow spectrum from freeform rumba styles to frenetic, danceable piano workouts via hip-hop’s golden age and classic soul. The internationally acclaimed pianist Roberto Carcassés heads up an all-star cast featuring soul diva Danay Suarez and Edrey from hype rap outfit Ogguere… Gilles P, as creative head of the project, will of course be jumping up on the turntables for a DJ set, ably supported by co-producer and close confidante – the very talented Simbad.

The album, Gilles Peterson Presents ‘Havana Cultura: The Search Continues’ is released on Brownswood Recordings on November 14th 2011.

Cuando Ya No Este
Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Una nota triste es lo que queda
Para rematar mi alma vagante
Yo que iba de amor colmada un día
Más no valoré y ahora me falta
Hay cosas que se pierden y no vuelven más
Cuando no hay experiencia no existe razón
Más quisiera tener otra oportunidad
O vagara mi alma esta triste canción

Si el perdón no alcanza estamos solos
Si no hay equilibrio en la balanza
Todo deja sin sentido todo
Y resulta que el amor no basta
Hay cosas que se pierden y no vuelven más
Cuando no hay experiencia no existe razón
más quisiera tener otra oportunidad
O vagara mi alma esta triste canción
O vagara mi alma esta triste cancion cion cion
O vagará mi alma esta triste cancion

tarararire ...
vagara mi alma esta triste cancion

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band's song Cuando Ya No Este convey a message of regret and longing. The opening line, "Una nota triste es lo que queda" (A sad note is what remains), sets the tone for the entirety of the song. It speaks of a lost and empty soul that was once filled with love. The singer is filled with remorse for not appreciating the love they once had and now that love is missing from their life.

The next line, "Para rematar mi alma vagante" (To finish off my wandering soul), further emphasizes the singer's state of mind. They are wandering and aimless because they have lost the love they once had. The chorus repeats the message of loss and regret, "Hay cosas que se pierden y no vuelven más" (There are things that are lost and never return), and laments the fact that sometimes love is not enough, "Y resulta que el amor no basta" (And it turns out that love is not enough).

Despite the sadness in the lyrics, there is a glimmer of hope in the line, "Más quisiera tener otra oportunidad" (I would like another chance). The singer longs for another chance to get things right and to appreciate the love they once had. Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of the pain and longing that accompanies lost love.

Line by Line Meaning

Una nota triste es lo que queda
All that remains is a sad note

Para rematar mi alma vagante
To finish off my wandering soul

Yo que iba de amor colmada un día
I who once felt complete with love

Más no valoré y ahora me falta
But didn't appreciate it and now I lack it

Hay cosas que se pierden y no vuelven más
There are things that are lost forever

Cuando no hay experiencia no existe razón
When there's no experience, there's no reason

Más quisiera tener otra oportunidad
But I wish I had another chance

O vagara mi alma esta triste canción
Or my soul will wander with this sad song

Si el perdón no alcanza estamos solos
If forgiveness doesn't suffice, we're alone

Si no hay equilibrio en la balanza
If there's no balance on the scale

Todo deja sin sentido todo
Everything loses its meaning