The group was formed by students at Universidad Técnica del Estado at Santiago, Chile in 1967. In 1973 as they were on tour abroad, General Augusto Pinochet launched a coup d'etat and took power. Having heard of the numerous extra-judicial killings of many fellow artists by Chile's army, they took up residence in Italy, resulting in "the longest tour in history" for Inti-Illimani as they lived in de facto exile. They continued their efforts supporting Chilean democracy internationally; magnitizdat copies of their work continued to be widely distributed in Chile. In September 1988, days after they were no longer banned from Chile, they began touring Chile again. They helped organize the voting down of the referendum that would have re-elected Pinochet. Recently, they were actually supported by Chile as representatives of Chilean culture.
In the past the group was musically led by Horacio Salinas and politically led by Jorge Coulon. However, in 2001 there was a controversial split of the group, which started when three key members left the group (José Seves, Horacio Durán and Horacio Salinas). They were replaced by Manuel Meriño (from Entrama), Cristián González and Juan Flores. Due to the importance of departed members, many called into question the ability of the remainder to carry on the Inti-Illimani name. Meanwhile, the three departed members started their own group they call Inti-Histórico. From 2005 there are two groups:
Inti-Illimani New (Coulon brothers)
Inti-Illimani Histórico (José Seves, Horacio Durán and Horacio Salinas)
Membership
In August 1967 Inti-Illimani's earliest membership consisted of:
Horacio Durán
Max Berrú
Jorge Coulon
Luis Espinoza
Oscar Guzmán
Ciro Retamal
Pedro Yáñez
In 1968 Inti-Illimani's membership consisted of:
Horacio Salinas (Musical director and main composer)
Horacio Durán
Max Berrú
Jorge Coulon
Ernesto Perez de Arce
Current line-up of the "Inti-Illimani Nuevo":
Jorge Coulon
Christian González
Daniel Cantillana
Juan Flores
Efren Viera
Marcelo Coulon
Manuel Meriño
César Jara
Current line-up of the "Inti-Histórico":
Horacio Salinas
Horacio Durán
José Seves
Jorge Ball
Fernando Julio
Camilo Salinas
Danilo Donoso
Other members in the history of the group:
Ernesto Pérez de Arce
Homero Altamirano
José Miguel Camus
Renato Freyggang
Pedro Villagra
La Exiliada del Sur
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Por un descuido casual
El otro quedó en parral
En un boliche de tragos
Recuerdo que mucho estrago
De niña vio el alma mía
Miserias y alevosías
Anudan mis pensamientos
Me pierdo en la lejanía
Mi brazo derecho en buín
Quedó, señores oyentes
El otro en san vicente
Quedó, no sé con qué fin
Mi pecho en curacautín
Lo veo en un jardincillo
Mis manos en maitencillo
Saludan en pelequén
Mi falda en perilauquén
Recoge unos pececillos
Se m'enredó en san rosendo
Un pie el cruzar una esquina
El otro en la quiriquina
Se me hunde mares adentro
Mi corazón descontento
Latió con pena en temuco
Y me ha llorado en calchuco
De frío por una escarcha
Voy y enderezo mi marcha
A la cuesta 'e chacabuco
Mis nervios dejo en granero
La sangr'en san sebastián
Y en la ciudad de chillán
La calma me bajó a cero
Mi riñonada en cabrero
Destruye una caminata
Y en una calle de itata
Se me rompió el estrumento
Y endilgo pa nacimiento
Una mañana de plata
Desembarcando en riñihue
Se vio a la violeta parra
Sin cuerdas en la guitarra
Sin hojas en el colihue
Una banda de chirigües
Le vino a dar un concierto
Con su hermanito roberto
Y cochepe forman un trío
Que cant'al orilla del río
Y en el vaivén de los puertos
The lyrics of Inti-Illimani's song La Exiliada del Sur paint a vivid picture of a woman who has left pieces of herself scattered across different places in Chile. These pieces are represented by body parts, memories or experiences that she associates with each place. For example, she left one eye in the lakes by accident, and the other in a bar in Parral. She also left her right arm in Buín, her chest in Curacautín, her hands in Maitencillo, and her skirt in Perilauquén. Each place seems to evoke particular feelings and associations, with some implying negative experiences like "miseries and treacheries," while others are more positive, like the image of her skirt collecting small fish.
The woman's journey continues as she travels through San Rosendo and Quiriquina, where she loses both feet. Her heart sinks with sadness in Temuco and Calchuco, and she experiences physical pain in Granero, San Sebastián, and Cabrero. Despite all of this, she perseveres. She straightens her path towards Chacabuco's slope, and even though her instrument breaks in Itata, she manages to improvise and play music in Nacimiento, where she eventually finds a "morning of silver."
The song's poetic lyrics beautifully capture the woman's journey, but they also represent broader themes of exile and longing for a sense of belonging. The song became an iconic piece of Chilean music and was often played during the dictatorship years as a symbol of resistance and survival.
Line by Line Meaning
Un ojo dejé en los lagos
I left one of my eyes near the lakes, due to a careless mistake.
Por un descuido casual
It happened accidentally.
El otro quedó en parral
The other eye got stuck in a tavern in Parral.
En un boliche de tragos
It was probably due to excessive consumption of booze.
Recuerdo que mucho estrago
I recall the damage my soul endured when I was a child.
De niña vio el alma mía
My soul witnessed a lot of misery and treachery when I was a child.
Miserias y alevosías
I witnessed plenty of poverty and deceitfulness.
Anudan mis pensamientos
These memories continue to haunt me and disrupts my thinking.
Entre las aguas y el viento
Lost and alone between the water and wind.
Me pierdo en la lejanía
I lose myself in the distance.
Mi brazo derecho en buín
I left my right arm in Buin.
Quedó, señores oyentes
It remained there, dear listeners.
El otro en san vicente
The other arm got left in San Vicente.
Quedó, no sé con qué fin
It got left there, and I don't know why.
Mi pecho en curacautín
My chest got left behind in Curacautin.
Lo veo en un jardincillo
I visualize it, situated in a small garden.
Mis manos en maitencillo
I accidentally left my hands in Maitencillo.
Saludan en pelequén
They're greeting others in Pelequen.
Mi falda en perilauquén
My skirt was left in Perilauquen.
Recoge unos pececillos
It picked up some small fish.
Se m'enredó en san rosendo
I got stuck in San Rosendo.
Un pie el cruzar una esquina
While crossing the road, one of my feet got left behind.
El otro en la quiriquina
The other one was left behind in Quiriquina.
Se me hunde mares adentro
It sank into the depth of the sea.
Mi corazón descontento
My heart is uneasy and unhappy.
Latió con pena en temuco
It beats with sorrow and grief in Temuco.
Y me ha llorado en calchuco
It has brought me to tears in Calchuco.
De frío por una escarcha
Due to the cold frost, it shivers.
Voy y enderezo mi marcha
I am trying to set my course straight and march forward.
A la cuesta 'e chacabuco
Towards the hill of Chacabuco.
Mis nervios dejo en granero
I left my nerves in Granero.
La sangr'en san sebastián
I bled in San Sebastian.
Y en la ciudad de chillán
Also, in the city of Chillan.
La calma me bajó a cero
My calmness deteriorated to zero.
Mi riñonada en cabrero
I left my kidneys in Cabrero.
Destruye una caminata
These physical ailments destroy my ability to walk.
Y en una calle de itata
On a street in Itata.
Se me rompió el estrumento
I broke my instrument.
Y endilgo pa nacimiento
I had to settle for a plate of silver in Nacimiento.
Una mañana de plata
A silver morning.
Desembarcando en riñihue
After disembarking in Rinihue.
Se vio a la violeta parra
Violeta Parra was sighted.
Sin cuerdas en la guitarra
Her guitar had no strings.
Sin hojas en el colihue
Without leaves, the Colihue couldn't serve as a quill.
Una banda de chirigües
A group of Chirigues.
Le vino a dar un concierto
They came and gave her a concert.
Con su hermanito roberto
Together with her brother Roberto.
Y cochepe forman un trío
They formed a trio with Cochepe.
Que cant'al orilla del río
They sing by the river's bank with joy.
Y en el vaivén de los puertos
And in the ebb and flow of the ports.
Lyrics © SADAIC LATIN COPYRIGHTS, INC.
Written by: PATRICIO MANNS, VIOLETA PARRA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@solem9003
La Exiliada Del Sur
Violeta Parra
Un ojo dejé en los lagos
Por un descuido casual
El otro quedó en parral
En un boliche de tragos
Recuerdo que mucho estrago
De niño vio el alma mía
Miserias y alevosías
Anudan mis pensamientos
Entre las aguas y el viento
Me pierdo en la lejanía
Mi brazo derecho en buin
Quedó seniores oyentes
El otro por san Vicente
Quedó no sé con que fin
Mi pecho en curacautín
- Lo veo en un jardincillo -
Mis manos, en maitencillo
Saludan en pelequén
Mi blusa en perquilauquén
Recoge unos pececillos
Se me enredó en san rosendo
Un pie al cruzar una esquina
El otro en la quiriquina
Se me hunde mares adentro
Mi corazón descontento
Latió con pena en temuco
Y me ha llorado en calbuco
De frío, por una escarcha
Voy y enderezo mi marcha
A la cuesta de chacabuco
Mis nervios dejo en graneros
La sangre en san Sebastián
Y en la ciudad de chillán
La calma me bajó a cero
Mi riñonada en cabrero
Destruye una caminata
Y en una calle de itata
Se me rompió el instrumento
Y endilgo pa' nacimiento
Una mañana de plata.
Desembarcando en riñihue
Se vio la violeta parra
Sin cuerdas en la guitarra
Sin hojas en el coligüe
Una bandada de chirigües
Le vino a dar un concierto.
Desembarcando en riñihue
Se vio a la Violeta Parra
@hathanh97
I'm an Asian who don't speak Spanish at all. But the first time I listened to this song, or even other songs from Inti Illimani, I got totally speechless of how beautiful, unique and special the melody and the Love they convey is. I can't describe how special I feel, I think everyone here understands what I mean. 😊 Love Chile. From Vietnam.
@jeseiman
viva ho chi minh ,amor a vietnam
@Nomegustausarmimail
Listen to Victor Jara's "El derecho de vivir en paz", it's a praise to Vietnam :)
@alfredolegorreta8795
Yes, how beautiful....!
@gissellest333
Music is the universal language. Glad you love it.
@dacaniullan
@@jeseiman ki8op0
@adrianainesarias3275
Hola soy de Argentina.Entre Rios..y amo esta musica
@roma460
Qué calidad INTI ILLIMANI. Un abrazo grande desde Bolivia 🇧🇴.
@johnlopez575
hermanos Sudamericanos, saludos desde Ecuador...
el pueblo unido jamás será vencido..!!
@cristiannavarro843
Saludos y fuerza a todo Ecuador....