El arriero
Hilda Herrera Lyrics


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En las arenas bailan los remolinos
El sol juega en el brillo del pedregal
Y prendido a la magia de los caminos
El arriero va... el arriero va...
Es bandera de niebla su poncho al viento
Lo saludan las flautas del pajonal
Y guapeando la senda por esos cerros,
El arriero va... el arriero va...
Las penas y las vaquitas,
Se van por la misma senda;
Las penas y las vaquitas,
Se van por la misma senda;
Las penas son de nosotros
Las vaquitas son ajenas
Las penas son de nosotros
Las vaquitas son ajenas.
Un degüeyo de soles muestra la tarde,
Se han dormido las luces del pedregal,
Y animando a la tropa, dale que dale
El arriero va, el arriero va...
Ojalá que la noche traiga recuerdos,
Que haga menos pesada la soledad,
Como sombra en la sombra por esos cerros,
El arriero va, el arriero va...
Las penas y las vaquitas,
Se van por la misma senda;
Las penas y las vaquitas,
Se van por la misma senda;
Las penas son de nosotros
Las vaquitas son ajenas
Las penas son de nosotros
Las vaquitas son ajenas.




Y prendido la magia de los caminos,
El arriero va, el arriero ... va...

Overall Meaning

Hilda Herrera's El arriero is a song that depicts a picture of a journey taken by a mule driver through the countryside of Argentina. The lyrics capture the beauty of the surroundings the driver passes through, and the challenges faced along the way. The opening lines set the scene with an image of whirlwinds dancing in the sand and the sun bouncing off the rocks. The mule driver, or arriero, is seen travelling along these paths, driven by the lure of adventure and the freedom of the open road. The world he traverses is one of natural beauty and mystery seen in the swaying grasses, the sounds of the reeds, and the rugged terrain.


The lyrics suggest that the arriero is a seasoned traveller who is at one with his surroundings. He is depicted as a strong individual, someone who is tough and resilient as he makes his way through the countryside. As the driver's journey continues into the night, he hopes that the memories of his travels will help him through his solitary moments. This is perhaps an indication that the arriero leads a solitary life and relies on the memories of his travels to provide comfort when alone. Overall, the lyrics to El arriero celebrate the journey of the mule driver, his adventure, and the natural beauty that surrounds him.


Line by Line Meaning

En las arenas bailan los remolinos
The whirlwinds dance across the sands


El sol juega en el brillo del pedregal
The sun plays with the shimmering rocks


Y prendido a la magia de los caminos
And captivated by the magic of the roads


El arriero va... el arriero va...
The muleteer goes... the muleteer goes...


Es bandera de niebla su poncho al viento
His poncho, like a flag of fog, flaps in the wind


Lo saludan las flautas del pajonal
He is greeted by the reed flutes of the grassland


Y guapeando la senda por esos cerros,
And bravely taking the path over those hills,


El arriero va... el arriero va...
The muleteer goes... the muleteer goes...


Las penas y las vaquitas,
The sorrows and the cows


Se van por la misma senda;
They take the same path;


Las penas son de nosotros
The sorrows are ours


Las vaquitas son ajenas.
The cows belong to others.


Un degüeyo de soles muestra la tarde,
A stream of suns shows the evening,


Se han dormido las luces del pedregal,
The lights of the rocks have gone to sleep,


Y animando a la tropa, dale que dale
And encouraging the herd, urging them on


El arriero va, el arriero va...
The muleteer goes... the muleteer goes...


Ojalá que la noche traiga recuerdos,
Hopefully the night will bring memories,


Que haga menos pesada la soledad,
To make loneliness less heavy,


Como sombra en la sombra por esos cerros,
Like a shadow among the shadows over those hills,


El arriero va, el arriero va...
The muleteer goes... the muleteer goes...


Las penas y las vaquitas,
The sorrows and the cows


Se van por la misma senda;
They take the same path;


Las penas son de nosotros
The sorrows are ours


Las vaquitas son ajenas.
The cows belong to others.


Y prendido la magia de los caminos,
And captivated by the magic of the roads,


El arriero va, el arriero ... va...
The muleteer goes, the muleteer... goes...




Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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