Catalan singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat got involved in music at the age of 17, when he got his first guitar, to which he dedicates one of his earliest songs, "Una guitarra."
In early 60's the young artist participated in a pop band playing along with classmates at Barcelona's Agronomy School, doing mainly Beatles stuff and Italian 'pop-of-the-era' songs translated to Spanish.
In 1965, while singing in a radio show called Radioscope, host Salvador Escanilla helped him to get a record deal with local label Edigsa where he recorded his first EP, as well as became part of Els Setze Jutges, a group of Catalan artists aiming to promote a renaissance of Catalan culture after Spanish Franco's dictatorship and make it spread into popular classes.
Joan Manuel Serrat's first live stage performance in 1967 at the Catalan Music Palace, established definitely his name as one of the most important artists inside the 'Nova cançó' ('New Song') movement in Catalonia.
Next year, Spain originally entered Serrat in the Eurovision Song Contest 1968 to sing "La, la, la", but he asked to sing it in Catalan, to which the Spanish authorities would not agree. This would be the first time he came into conflict with the language politics of Francoist Spain, because of his decision to sing in his native Catalan language, repressed by Franco. After the incident, Serrat was hurriedly substituted by Massiel, who won the contest with her Spanish-language version. By that time Serrat's songs were banned and his records burned in the streets. He then traveled to South America and participated in the Rio de Janeiro's World Music Festival, where he took first place with the song "Penélope."
In 1969 Serrat released an album containing songs with texts of Antonio Machado, a well known Spanish poet of late 19th-early 20th century. This album gave him immediate fame in all Spain and Latin America though, in spite of this, his decission to sing in Spanish was still criticized in some nationalistic Catalan circles.
The release of 1971's Mediterráneo LP consolidated the artist worldwide. In 1976, Joan Manuel Serrat was acclaimed for the first time in the U.S.A. while performing in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
In late 1974, Serrat was exiled in Mexico due to his condemnation of arbitrary executions under Franco's regime. It wasn't until Franco's death (November 20, 1975) that Serrat was able to return to his homeland.
In January of 1995, the Spanish government gave him a medal for his contribution to the Hispanic culture. That same year, a tribute album called Serrat, Eres único was made to honor his career, featuring artists such as Diego Torres, Ketama, Rosario (Flores), Joaquín Sabina, and Antonio Flores. In the year 2000, the Spanish Association of Authors and Editors (SGAE) awarded him with one of ten Medals of the Century.
In October 2004 he revealed that he had been undergoing treatment for cancer of the bladder and in November that year he cancelled a tour of Latin America and the USA in order to undergo surgery in Barcelona, where he still lives. By that time, his wonderful song "Mediterráneo" was selected as the most important song of the 20th century in Spain.
His recovery was satisfactory, and in 2005 he went on a tour again ("Serrat 100×100") around Spain and Latin America with his lifelong producer and arranger, Ricard Miralles.
A second volume of Serrat, eres único was also released this year, featuring Alejandro Sanz, Estopa, and Pasión+Vega. Around the same time, Cuban artists such as Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, Chucho Valdez, and Ibrahim Ferrer came together to make another tribute CD, Cuba le canta a Serrat.
Source: Wikipedia®
Caminito de la Obra
Joan Manuel Serrat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vale, que el sol lo ha marcado con hierro de paleta
Y que al nacer le pusieron la trabanqueta.
Vale, que se desayuna con la barrecha
Pa' arrancarle a la jornada su corazón de lunes
En un bar tempranero de Casa Antúnez.
Vale, que son almas que zozobran
Caminito de la obra.
Vale, que suben al cielo entre tocho y porlan...
Vale, que lloran sus ojos lágrimas de cemento
Viendo escaparse los sueños como los vientos.
Crecen de noche
Y en el día se derrumban
Los sueños que el olvido mece
Por rumbas
En tanto llegue
El día de los elegidos
Cuando el eco los devuelva
Del olvido.
Escampa en una Vanguardia la fiambrera
Y se festeja con media botella de priorato
Y se calienta con sol y permanganato.
Y arrepenchao en la sombra duerme la siesta
Soñando con hacerle, a su capataz, la vaca
Y que gane fuera el Betis y el Barça en casa.
Vale, que donde no hay suerte ni calé
Vale, que no hay dios que encuentre el Norte
Si no le salva un catorce.
Vale, que cuando el sol plega y baja el andamio
Vale, que tiene agujetas en su alma robinada
Y que mañana su historia no habrá cambiado nada.
Vale, que se le empasó el porvenir la chala...
Vale, que el sol lo ha marcado con hierro de paleta
Y que al nacer le pusieron la trabanqueta.
The lyrics of Joan Manuel Serrat's song "Caminito de la Obra" describe the struggles of a group of construction workers as they navigate through their daily lives. The first verse acknowledges the hardships that one particular worker has faced in his past, with "vale, que se le empasó el porvenir la chala" meaning that his future has become foggy, possibly due to past mistakes or misfortunes. The second verse paints a vivid picture of the physical toll that the job has taken on the workers, with the sun leaving permanent marks on their skin and their bodies aching from the labor. The chorus emphasizes the emotional turmoil that the workers face, as they feel as if they are adrift with no way to escape their struggles.
The third verse elicits feelings of sadness as it describes the workers watching their dreams slip away "viendo escaparse los sueños como los vientos." The following verses describe aspects of the workers' daily routine, such as waking up early to eat breakfast and going to a local bar before beginning their construction work. The lyrics also address the workers' desire for change, expressed through their dreams of one day being in a better situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Caminito de la Obra" express the struggles of a group of people who work difficult labor jobs and express their hopelessness about their situation, yet still hold onto dreams of a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Vale, que se le empasó el porvenir la chala...
It's worth noting that the future is uncertain for this worker, and it's not looking good.
Vale, que el sol lo ha marcado con hierro de paleta
It's worth noting that this worker has been marked by the sun and the hard labor of his job.
Y que al nacer le pusieron la trabanqueta.
It's worth noting that this worker was born into a difficult life.
Vale, que se desayuna con la barrecha
It's worth noting that this worker starts his day with a tool in hand.
Pa' arrancarle a la jornada su corazón de lunes
To start his work week, this worker must put his all into every day of work.
En un bar tempranero de Casa Antúnez.
He must leave home early and eats his breakfast in a local bar named Casa Antúnez.
Vale, que enchegará la mobilé.
It's worth noting that he will start the construction machinery.
Vale, que son almas que zozobran
It's worth noting that these workers are souls that are struggling.
Caminito de la obra.
They are on the path to work.
Vale, que suben al cielo entre tocho y porlan...
It's worth noting that they work high above the ground between bricks and cement blocks.
Vale, que lloran sus ojos lágrimas de cemento
It's worth noting that these workers cry tears that mix with the cement they work with.
Viendo escaparse los sueños como los vientos.
They watch their dreams escape them like the wind blows away sand.
Crecen de noche
Their dreams grow at night,
Y en el día se derrumban
but in the light of day they fall apart.
Los sueños que el olvido mece
These are the dreams that forgetfulness cradles.
Por rumbas
These dreams sometimes come back to them
En tanto llegue
Hoping for the arrival
El día de los elegidos
of their chosen day.
Cuando el eco los devuelva
When the echoes of their dreams resurface
Del olvido.
from the confines of forgetfulness.
Escampa en una Vanguardia la fiambrera
In the middle of the day, workers take a break to eat.
Y se festeja con media botella de priorato
They even take a moment to celebrate with half a bottle of wine.
Y se calienta con sol y permanganato.
They warm up in the sun using potassium permanganate.
Y arrepenchao en la sombra duerme la siesta
After lunch, they retreat to the shade to rest.
Soñando con hacerle, a su capataz, la vaca
While napping, they dream of pulling a prank on their boss.
Y que gane fuera el Betis y el Barça en casa.
They dream of their favorite football teams winning.
Vale, que donde no hay suerte ni calé
It's worth noting that some areas lack fortune or resources.
Vale, que no hay dios que encuentre el Norte
There seems to be no guidance or direction for these workers.
Si no le salva un catorce.
Some workers hope that a lottery ticket will change their fortunes.
Vale, que cuando el sol plega y baja el andamio
It's worth noting that at the end of the day when the sun sets and the scaffold is lowered.
Vale, que tiene agujetas en su alma robinada
It's worth noting that the worker's soul is exhausted and rusty.
Y que mañana su historia no habrá cambiado nada.
And the next day, their story and struggles remain the same.
Vale, que se le empasó el porvenir la chala...
It's worth noting that the future remains uncertain for this worker, and it's not looking good.
Vale, que el sol lo ha marcado con hierro de paleta
It's worth noting that this worker has been marked by the sun and the hard labor of his job.
Y que al nacer le pusieron la trabanqueta.
It's worth noting that this worker was born into a difficult life.
Contributed by Andrew Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Enrique baeza-martínez
Vale, que se le empasó el porvenir la chala
Vale, que el sol lo ha marcado con hierro de paleta
Y que al nacer le pusieron la trabanqueta
Vale, que se desayuna con la barrecha
Pa' arrancarle a la jornada su corazón de lunes
En un bar tempranero de Casa Antúnez
Vale, que enchegará la mobilé
Vale, que son almas que zozobran
Caminito de la obra
Vale, que suben al cielo entre tocho y porlan
Vale, que lloran sus ojos lágrimas de cemento
Viendo escaparse los sueños como los vientos
Crecen de noche
Y en el día se derrumban
Los sueños que el olvido mece
Por rumbas
En tanto llegue
El día de los elegidos
Cuando el eco los devuelva
Del olvido
Escampa en una Vanguardia la fiambrera
Y se festeja con media botella de priorato
Y se calienta con sol y permanganato
Y arrepenchao en la sombra duerme la siesta
Soñando con hacerle, a su capataz, la vaca
Y que gane fuera el Betis y el Barça en casa
Vale, que donde no hay suerte ni calé
Vale, que no hay dios que encuentre el Norte
Si no le salva un catorce
Vale, que cuando el sol plega y baja el andamio
Vale, que tiene agujetas en su alma robinada
Y que mañana su historia no habrá cambiado nada
Vale, que se le empasó el porvenir la chala
Vale, que el sol lo ha marcado con hierro de paleta
Y que al nacer le pusieron la trabanqueta
https://lyricstranslate.com
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Enrique baeza-martínez
Vale, que se le empasó el porvenir la chala
Vale, que el sol lo ha marcado con hierro de paleta
Y que al nacer le pusieron la trabanqueta
Vale, que se desayuna con la barrecha
Pa' arrancarle a la jornada su corazón de lunes
En un bar tempranero de Casa Antúnez
Vale, que enchegará la mobilé
Vale, que son almas que zozobran
Caminito de la obra
Vale, que suben al cielo entre tocho y porlan
Vale, que lloran sus ojos lágrimas de cemento
Viendo escaparse los sueños como los vientos
Crecen de noche
Y en el día se derrumban
Los sueños que el olvido mece
Por rumbas
En tanto llegue
El día de los elegidos
Cuando el eco los devuelva
Del olvido
Escampa en una Vanguardia la fiambrera
Y se festeja con media botella de priorato
Y se calienta con sol y permanganato
Y arrepenchao en la sombra duerme la siesta
Soñando con hacerle, a su capataz, la vaca
Y que gane fuera el Betis y el Barça en casa
Vale, que donde no hay suerte ni calé
Vale, que no hay dios que encuentre el Norte
Si no le salva un catorce
Vale, que cuando el sol plega y baja el andamio
Vale, que tiene agujetas en su alma robinada
Y que mañana su historia no habrá cambiado nada
Vale, que se le empasó el porvenir la chala
Vale, que el sol lo ha marcado con hierro de paleta
Y que al nacer le pusieron la trabanqueta
https://lyricstranslate.com
Juan Carlos Camacho Martinez
Yo desde q era un adolescente ya me encantaba escucherle,, ahora tengo casi 60 y me gusta cada día más, un gran poeta
Luis Fernando Zuleta Diaz
Toda mi vida ha sido y será Serrat mi compañero de viaje, he tenido la oportunidad de asistir a varios conciertos, para mi es inigualable.
Mary Alvarez
Sólo Serrat sabe interpretar los sentimientos -Aquello de tener el alma robinada...
Antonio Aguilera Valle
Es único contando historias
Flora sanz sánchez
1
Daniel Martinez
@Antonio Aguilera Valle busca "construccio" con nacha guevara... Y dime que piensas. Buenas noches
Roberto Jorge Demarco
Cuando era adolescente y vivía en Argentina,no entendía ni papa de la letra, intuíamos pero ni papa,hasta que llegué a vivir a España y ya fue otro mundo.Hermoso disco Para Piel de Manzana..
Hugo Jiménez
Siempre será una de mis favoritas.