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®
Princesa
Joan Manuel Serrat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tú eres distinta
No eres como las demás
Chicas del barrio
Así los hombres te miran
Como te miran
Así murmura envidioso
El vecindario
Tú no, princesa, tú no
Tú eres la rosa
Que fue a nacer entre cardos
Como revancha
A un arrabal despiadado
En donde el día
Se ocupa de echar por tierra
Toda esperanza
Tú no has de ver consumida
Cómo la vida
Pasó de largo
Maltratada y mal querida
Sin ver cumplida
Ni una promesa
Le dice mientras
Cepilla el pelo
De su princesa
Tú no, princesa, tú no
Tú no has nacido
Para pasar las fatigas
Que yo pasé
Sacándole el dobladillo
A un miserable
Salario que no alcanza
A fin de mes
Tú no, princesa, tú no
Por dios lo juro
Tú no andarás de rodillas
Fregando pisos
No acabarás hecha un zarrio
Como tu madre
Cansada de quitar mierda
Y de parir hijos
Tú saldrás de esta cochambre
De muertos de hambre
Ya me imagino
La cara de las vecinas
Cuando aparezcas
En limusina
A por esta vieja
Le dice mientras
Cepilla el pelo
De su princesa
Tú no, princesa, tú no
Vuelve temprano
Y la sigue un paso atrás
Hasta la calle
Planchándole con la palma
De la mano
Una arruga que el vestido
Le hace en el talle
Y, como quien ve a la virgen
Subir al cielo
La ve alejarse
Camino a su primer casting
Para un anuncio
En televisión
La nena vale
La nena estudia
Danza moderna
Y declamación
In Joan Manuel Serrat's song "Princesa," the singer speaks to a young woman, telling her that she is not like the other girls in the neighborhood. He calls her a "rose that was born among the thorns" as revenge against the cruel city and apologizes for the hardships he's gone through in his own life. He expresses his desire to protect her from living the same life he has had, working long hours to barely make ends meet and seeing her mother exhausted from cleaning and parenting. He believes that she is destined for greater things and encourages her to pursue her passions, citing her talent for modern dance and declamation. He ends the song by watching her walk down the street towards her first television casting, filled with pride and hope for her future.
The song is an ode to young women and their potential for greatness, despite their circumstances. The singer uses vivid imagery and metaphorical language to paint a picture of a young woman who is different from the others around her, a "princess" who deserves to lead a better life. He urges her to follow her dreams and escape the cycle of poverty and hard work that he has experienced, while also recognizing the difficulties she may face in achieving her goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Tú no, princesa, tú no
The singer is telling the subject of the song that she is different and not like other girls.
Tú eres distinta
The singer repeats his claim that the subject is different from the others.
No eres como las demás
The singer is emphasizing that the subject is unique and not like anyone else.
Chicas del barrio
The singer is referring to the other girls in the neighborhood.
Así los hombres te miran
The singer is acknowledging that men look at her differently.
Como te miran
He is acknowledging that they look at her with envy and admiration.
Así murmura envidioso
The singer suggests that the men are envious of the subject's beauty.
El vecindario
The singer is referring to the neighborhood where they all live.
Tú no, princesa, tú no
Again, the singer reiterates that the subject is not like everyone else.
Tú eres la rosa
The singer compares the subject to a rose in a garden of thorns.
Que fue a nacer entre cardos
The singer suggests that the subject was born into a harsh and difficult environment.
Como revancha
The singer suggests that the subject is a symbol of redemption against the harsh life in the neighborhood.
A un arrabal despiadado
The singer suggests that the neighborhood is a ruthless and merciless place.
En donde el día
The singer highlights the negative qualities and struggles of life in the neighborhood.
Se ocupa de echar por tierra
The singer suggests that life in the neighborhood crushes any hope or chance for success.
Toda esperanza
The singer suggests that the environment is hopeless and does not offer opportunities for success.
Tú no has de ver consumida
The singer is reassuring the subject that she will not face the same struggles and hardships experienced by others.
Cómo la vida
The singer is describing the struggles and hardships that others face in life.
Pasó de largo
The singer suggests that life has passed by those who struggle in the neighborhood.
Maltratada y mal querida
The singer suggests that those who struggle in the neighborhood are mistreated and unloved.
Sin ver cumplida
The singer suggests that they do not experience fulfilled dreams or goals.
Ni una promesa
The singer suggests that they do not receive promises or hope for a better future.
Le dice mientras
The singer is using a dialogue to express a conversation between two people.
Cepilla el pelo
The singer is describing a physical action of brushing the subject's hair.
De su princesa
The singer addresses the subject as his princess.
Tú no, princesa, tú no
The singer repeats his claim that the subject will not experience life like the others in the neighborhood.
Tú no has nacido
The singer suggests that the subject has been destined for a better life.
Para pasar las fatigas
The singer suggests that the subject will not experience the hardships and struggles of others in the neighborhood.
Que yo pasé
The singer speaks from his own experience of struggling in the neighborhood.
Sacándole el dobladillo
The singer is describing a job in which he had to hem clothing for a meager salary.
A un miserable
The singer is reflecting on the small amount of money he earned from his job.
Salario que no alcanza
The singer is highlighting that the salary was not enough to live comfortably.
A fin de mes
The singer is suggesting that the salary did not last through the month and had to be stretched.
Tú no, princesa, tú no
Again, the singer reassures the subject that she will not experience the same struggles as he did.
Por dios lo juro
The singer is making a solemn promise to the subject.
Tú no andarás de rodillas
The singer suggests that the subject will not have to live life on her knees or work menial jobs.
Fregando pisos
The singer is describing a job that involves cleaning floors.
No acabarás hecha un zarrio
The singer suggests that the subject will not end up like her mother, exhausted and covered in dirt.
Como tu madre
The singer references the subject's mother to make a comparison of what she will not become.
Cansada de quitar mierda
The singer is describing the hard work that the subject's mother did to keep the household clean.
Y de parir hijos
The singer suggests that the subject's mother had to bear additional struggles of raising children.
Tú saldrás de esta cochambre
The singer is suggesting that the subject will leave the slum and move to a better area.
De muertos de hambre
The singer is referencing the struggling members of the neighborhood who face hunger.
Ya me imagino
The singer is visualizing a future of prosperity for the subject.
La cara de las vecinas
The singer is suggesting that the neighbors will be surprised by the success and change in the subject's life.
Cuando aparezcas
The singer is referencing the subject's appearance after succeeding and leaving the neighborhood.
En limusina
The singer is describing an image of the subject arriving in a luxurious car.
A por esta vieja
The singer is making an affectionate reference to himself, describing how he brushes the subject's hair.
Le dice mientras
The singer is continuing the dialogue between himself and the subject.
Cepilla el pelo
The singer is repeating the physical action of brushing the subject's hair.
De su princesa
The singer is addressing the subject as his princess once again.
Tú no, princesa, tú no
The singer repeats his promise that the subject will not experience the hardships of the neighborhood.
Vuelve temprano
The singer is asking the subject to return home early.
Y la sigue un paso atrás
The singer is revealing his protective nature over the subject by following her at a distance.
Hasta la calle
The singer provides direction on how far he will follow the subject.
Planchándole con la palma
The singer is describing the act of smoothing out a wrinkle in the subject's dress with his hand.
De la mano
The singer is pointing out that he is using his hand to smooth out the subject's dress.
Una arruga que el vestido
The singer is describing the wrinkle on the dress that needs to be smoothed out.
Le hace en el talle
The singer is specifying where the wrinkle is located.
Y, como quien ve a la virgen
The singer uses a simile to describe how he feels seeing the subject succeed and leave the neighborhood.
Subir al cielo
The singer is describing the subject's success as if she is ascending to heaven.
La ve alejarse
The singer is watching the subject leave the neighborhood behind as she moves on to success.
Camino a su primer casting
The singer is describing the subject's pursuit of success by attending her first audition.
Para un anuncio
The singer is specifying what the audition is for.
En televisión
The singer is describing where the advertisement will be shown.
La nena vale
The singer is referencing the subject and expressing his belief in her worth and value.
La nena estudia
The singer is expressing his pride in the subject's hard work and education.
Danza moderna
The singer is specifying what the subject is studying.
Y declamación
The singer is specifying what the subject is studying.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Flavio Venturini, Ronaldo Bastos
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jacquelinesepulveda4999
Cada vez que lo escucho lloro y lloro .😢😢😢 me recuerda de donde salí y donde esta mi hija .gracias DIOS😢❤❤❤
@libertadanmery7315
Cuanto remueve esta letra, se ajusta a tantas madres, entre ellas la mía, nunca será suficiente todo lo que se haga por ellas, son las verdaderas heroínas de la historia 👑🏆✨
@gloriaromero9348
Esta hermosa canción está dedicada a todas esas madres, que han tenido que luchar trabajando en lo que sea, para que sus hijas no sean como ellas, y que tengan un trabajo más digno, aunque ningun trabajo es indigno que conste, y para esas hijas que son inteligentes, agradecidas y nobles ,que saben reconocer lo que se ha sacrificado por ellas .
La primera vez que yo escuché esta canción, me quedé sin palabras, llorando a moco tendido, Joan Manuel, como es posible, que en cinco minutos nos hayas hecho sentir a tantas madres identificadas, eres lo más grande que ha parido madre alguna, a mí me haces llorar cada vez que la escucho, tu sensibilidad, sentimiento, inteligencia, talento y ese corazón que tienes en tu garganta cuando cantas, nunca sabré como agradecerlo, gracias maestro
@jorgeflores206
Yo no soy madre... Y cuesta contener las lágrimas...
@1234522687
Me parece que es una canción hermosa y representa todo lo que se siente por una hija y todo lo que las madres deseamos para ellas todo lo que la vida nos negó
@juliacoelloasensio212
Es la única canción que me ha hecho llorar ( es tan tierna ) y tan real para muchas madres que quieren lo mejor para sus hijas
@Electricfeel97
Esta canción,me la acaba de dedicar mi padre de 63 años,yo tengo 14,vivo con una madre esquizofrenica,y sueño siempre ha sido ser actriz,El se preucupa mucho por mis estudios,ya que a mi lo que realmente me apasiona son las artes,y no presto atención a las otras asignaturas. Padre,te quiero,más que voy a querer a nadie.
@robertogianellialmaraz6047
Princesa Tú no ,Tu no, cuando la escucho no puedo frenar mis lágrimas.Tan maravilloso es Serrat que no tengo palabras para agradecerle como me toca el alma
@leonablackstar
amo esta canción por que expresa todo lo que deseo a mis hijas ,que las amo mas allá que mi propia vida
@francisbacon007
Cuando escucho la canción me recuerda mi infancia, en donde tenia que salir de la pobres en la que vive uno, teniendo sueños que uno quiere realizar, viendo los esfuerzos que los padres hacen y tratar de recompensarlos, aunque en ocasiones es demasiado tarde, han partido. Gracias por todo. Bella canción.Poeta