In the late '60s and early '70s, Baez came into her songwriting own, penning many songs (most notably "Diamonds & Rust," a nostalgic piece about her ill-fated romance with Bob Dylan, and "Sweet Sir Galahad," a song about sister Mimi Fariña's ( of Richard & Mimi Fariña fame) second marriage, and continued to meld her songcraft with topical issues. She was outspoken in her disapproval of the Vietnam war and later the CIA-backed coups in many Latin American countries.
She was also instrumental in the Civil Rights movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King on many occassions and being jailed for her beliefs. In 1963, her performance of "We Shall Overcome" at the Lincoln Memorial just prior to Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream..." speech helped confirm the song as the Civil Rights anthem.
In December 1972, she traveled to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and was caught in that country's "Christmas Campaign," in which the U.S. bombed the city more times than any other during the entire war. While pregnant with her only son, Gabriel, she performed a handful of songs in the middle of the night on day one of the 1969 Woodstock festival. She is considered the "Queen of Folk" for being at the forefront of the 1960s folk revival and inspiring generations of female folksingers that followed. Over fifty years after she first began singing publicly in 1958, Joan Baez continues to tour, demonstrate in favor of human rights and nonviolence, and release albums for a world of devoted fans.
1959
Gracias a la vida
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me dio dos luceros, que cuando los abro,
Perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco
Y en el alto cielo su fondo estrellado
Y en las multitudes el hombre que yo amo
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el oido que en todo su ancho
Martillos, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos,
Y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario;
Con el las palabras que pienso y declaro:
Madre, amigo, hermano, y luz alumbrando
La ruta del alma del que estoy amando
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados;
Con ellos anduve ciudades y charcos,
Playas y desiertos, montanas y llanos,
Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me dio el corazon que agita su marco
Cuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano,
Cuando miro al bueno tan lejos del malo,
Cuando miro al fondo de tus ojos claros
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto
Asi yo distingo dicha de quebranto,
Los dos materiales que forman mi canto,
Y el canto de ustedes que es mi mismo canto,
Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tant
The song Gracias a la Vida by Joan Baez is a beautiful melody that conveys a deep sense of appreciation for all the good things that life has given the singer. It starts with the line "Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto" which translates to "Thanks to life, which has given me so much." The singer goes on to detail some of the gifts of life, including the ability to see clearly, the joy of love, the beauty of nature, and the sound of music.
The first verse is particularly striking as the singer talks about being given "two bright stars" which allow her to distinguish between black and white. This is a metaphor for the ability to see things clearly and see the beauty in the world. The second verse talks about the gift of hearing, specifically the ability to hear a range of sounds from the chirping of crickets to the voice of a loved one. The third verse talks about language and the gift of communication. The singer thanks life for giving her the ability to express herself and connect with others.
The song expresses gratitude for the gift of movement and the opportunity to explore the world. The singer mentions how she has walked through cities and across mountains, and how she appreciates the house, street, and courtyard of her loved one. The song also talks about the gift of emotions, the ability to feel both joy and sadness, and the power of music to express these emotions. In essence, Gracias a la Vida is a song of gratitude that celebrates the beauty and richness of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
I am grateful for the life that has given me so much
Me dio dos luceros, que cuando los abro, perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco
It gave me two bright stars, that when I open them, allow me to perfectly distinguish between black and white
Y en el alto cielo su fondo estrellado, y en las multitudes el hombre que yo amo
I see a starry sky above and the man I love in the crowds below
Me ha dado el oido que en todo su ancho, graba noche y dia, grillos y canarios, martillos, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos, y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado
It gave me the ability to hear all sounds, day and night: crickets, canaries, hammers, turbines, barks, and especially the sweet voice of my beloved one
Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario; con el las palabras que pienso y declaro: madre, amigo, hermano, y luz alumbrando la ruta del alma del que estoy amando
It gave me language and the alphabet; with them I can express my thoughts and declare my love for my mother, friend, brother, and shine a light on the path of the soul of the one I love
Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados; con ellos anduve ciudades y charcos, playas y desiertos, montanas y llanos, y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio
It gave me the ability to walk despite tired feet; with them I have walked through cities and puddles, beaches and deserts, mountains and plains, and to your house, your street, and your patio
Me dio el corazon que agita su marco cuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano, cuando miro al bueno tan lejos del malo, cuando miro al fondo de tus ojos claros
It gave me a heart that beats faster when I look at the amazing things created by the human brain, when I see the good so far from the bad and when I look deep into your clear eyes
Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto, asi yo distingo dicha de quebranto, los dos materiales que forman mi canto, y el canto de ustedes que es mi mismo canto, y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto
It gave me both laughter and tears, so I can distinguish between joy and sorrow, the two materials that make up my song; and your song is my own song, and the song of everyone is my own song too
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
I am grateful for the life that has given me so much
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Violeta Parra Sandoval
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tommy0814
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me dio dos luceros, que cuando los abro
Perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco
Y en el alto cielo, su fondo estrellado
Y en las multitudes, el hombre que yo amo
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el oído, que en todo su ancho
Graba noche y días, grillos y canarios
Martillos, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos
Y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario
Con él, las palabras que pienso y declaro
Madre, amigo, hermano, y luz alumbrando
La ruta del alma del que estoy amando
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados
Con ellos, anduve ciudades y charcos
Playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos
Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me dio el corazón, que agita su marco
Cuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano
Cuando miro el bueno tan lejos del malo
Cuando miro el fondo de tus ojos claros
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto
Así yo distingo dicha de quebranto
Los dos materiales que forman mi canto
Y el canto de ustedes que es el mismo canto
Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto
@mariaclaramediavilla1897
una delas voces mas bellas del mundo, sus ojos son el reflejo de un alma luminosa
@victor.belmar
Viva Violeta Parra de Chile, Gracias Joan Baez por este tremendo tributo a nuestra cantautora mayor. Abrazos desde Paillaco Chile.
@kecasu
No importa que versión sea la mejor! Es maravilloso escuchar "gracias a la vida" en cualquier cantante. Es una canción hermosa, legado de nuestra Violeta Parra.
@billroubanis4750
Exactly.
@roccocasella7872
Che TFS
@repararplastico7258
Tiempo owner e 8 our
@elviejazochan
vale, es una alegria que escuchen a las mujeres, mucho tiempo sometidas a la sombra por los "machos" injustos y asesinos.-
@elviejazochan
UNA MUJER QUE DIO TODO CON AMOR, si esas mujeres con tanto amor, no hubiesen existido, yo no estaria aqui escribiendo, GRACIAS POR LA VIDA, SEÑORAS DE HOY y del FUTURO, AMEN .-
@luismartinperez5800
La mejor cantante y compositora del siglo XX. Novia del mejor cantante y compositor del siglo XX Bob Dylan. Absolutamente maravillosa, esto es música y no el puto Justin Bieber o el reguetón... Consigue lo que tiene que conseguir la música emocionar y unir a la gente. Los pelos como escarpias. (Y ya me callo que soy a veces muy coñazo) 😂😂😂😂👏👏👏
@wil529
Although this version is not being sang in the right order and pronunciation is hard to understand (I'm a Spanish speaking person), but I find this version very beautiful and refreshing. I like the fast pace it has, reminds me much of the original version from Violeta which is fast paced too, unlike it's most famous cover, Mercedes Sosa's. Plus love the cheerfulness of the rhythm, great version indeed!