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
Run Run Se Fue Pa'L Norte
Inti-Illimani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No sé cuando vendrá:
Vendrá para el cumpleaños
De nuestra soledad.
De una estación del tiempo,
Decidido a rodar,
Run Run se fue p'al Norte
The song "Run Run Se Fue Pa'L Norte" by Inti-Illimani tells the story of Run Run, who has left his home to head north. The singer is unsure when or if he will return, but hopes that he will come back for their birthday of loneliness. The lyrics convey a feeling of longing and uncertainty, as the singer is left wondering about the future and the whereabouts of Run Run. The line "estación del tiempo" (station of time) suggests that Run Run is leaving behind something and setting off on a journey with an unknown destination, while "rodar" conveys movement and the idea of someone who is constantly on the move.
The song evokes a sense of melancholy, emphasizing the loneliness and isolation that comes with separation from loved ones. It is not clear why Run Run has left, but the fact that he may not return is a source of sadness for the singer. The repeated phrase "No sé cuando vendrá" (I don't know when he will come) adds to the feeling of uncertainty and emphasizes the sense of waiting and longing.
Overall, "Run Run Se Fue Pa'L Norte" is a poignant and reflective song about separation and the longing for companionship. The lyrics are beautifully crafted and evoke a sense of nostalgia and bittersweet sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
Run run se fue p'al Norte,
Run run, a person, went to the North,
No sé cuando vendrá:
I don't know when they will come back:
Vendrá para el cumpleaños
They'll come for the birthday
De nuestra soledad.
Of our loneliness.
De una estación del tiempo,
From a season in time,
Decidido a rodar,
Determined to roam,
Run Run se fue p'al Norte
Run Run went to the North
No sé cuando vendrá.
I don't know when they will come back.
Contributed by Alexandra G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Martín Rosas Vera
Hay cosas en la vida
que no tienen explicación,
solo se presentan
y después se van.
Solo dejame vivirte,
vida hermosa.
Déja que se desgarre
eso que atormenta
y que las notas musicales
las hagan fragmentos,
Y que el aire haga el eco
de esas sensaciones,
para volver a vivir
cada momento.
Loren Mess
Sono italiana , dalla regione : Sicilia:. Ho visto 2 volte questo gruppo cileno al Teatro Greco di Siracusa., città archeologica , d'arte e molto bella vi è nato il grande : Archimede:. Bravissimi e indimenticabili : Inti Illimani:. Grazie per essere venuti nella mia meravigliosa città. 🥰🎵🎶🇮🇹❤❤
Giorgio Giuliani
Questa canzone, questa musica, incarna pienamente l'anima dell'America Latina, l'anima di Violeta, l'anima degli Inti Illimani, l'anima di un'umanità che soffre...sia per amore, per giustizia e libertà. Giorgio Giuliani
Rolando Nava
Saludos desde México a toda América latina, orgulloso de que compartamos este bello idioma y de escuchar estas hermosas canciones
vemoti
Para todos aquellos que creen que hay una historia detras de cada cancion, esta es la mia, es increible haberme encontrado nuevamente esta cancion que habia buscado durante 15 años de mi vida, al escuchar esta maravilla me doy cuenta de cuan lejos y perdidos estamos en la actualidad.
Giovanni Castillo Monico
Grande el Inti Illimani siempre los oigo en El Salvador Centro America su musica me recuerda a mi padre desaparecido pir el ejercito en 1981
rodrigo C.
Hay muchos grupos que viven de la obra de otros artistas con los ya reiterativos "homenajes" a este u otro. El caso de Inti Illimani es distinto. En su época le dió una nueva altura a las obras de Violeta Parra y Víctor Jara. Le otorgó nuevos arreglos y los embelleció aún más, aparte de mantener en la memoria muchos de sus temas prohibidos en el Chile de la época.
Gérard SOLIER
J'étais tombée sous le charme de cette magnifique chanson lors d'un voyage au Chili il y a bien longtemps, j'avais ramené une cassette, disparue depuis. Je l'avais apprise à mes élèves, chant, flûte et moi à la guitare, elle avait laissé les parents d'élèves très émus à la fête de l'école. Anthy sur Léman, 1997 ... Je pensais ne jamais la réentendre, quel plaisir de la retrouver sur Youtube ! Emotion intacte ! Myriam
Israel Fuentes
Una canción triste y de gran dolor que llega al corazón, claramente no es un tema para todo mundo... Un gran tema de Violeta Parra y una excelente interpretacion de los intillimani
giuseppe cirlincione palumbo
Dolce, triste, struggente, malinconica. Bellissima, mi fa sognare ad occhi aperti. Ascolto gli Inti Illimani dal 1973, quando, dopo il colpo di Stato militare in Cile, sono stati costretti in esilio da noi.
romeopalote
La decisión de hacer esta versión casi completamente instrumental me parece elegante y muy acertada. No debió ser fácil decir: "bueno, quitémosle letra a una de las mejores canciones de Violeta Parra". Hay que ser valiente. Pero sabían lo que estaban haciendo. Esta versión expone otra capa, el dolor palpitante que azota la composición de la Violeta. Puedes sentir el camino, el polvo suspendido por el viento.