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®
Si La Muerte Pisa Mi Huerto
Joan Manuel Serrat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
¿quién firmará que he muerto de muerte natural?
¿Quién lo voceará en mi pueblo?
¿Quién pondrá un lazo negro al entreabierto portal?
¿Quién será ese buen amigo que morirá conmigo, aunque sea un tanto así?
¿Quién mentirá un Padre Nuestro y "a rey muerto, rey puesto"
pensará para sí?
¿Quién cuidará de mi perro?
¿Cuál de todos mis amores ha de comprar las flores para mi funeral?
¿Quién vaciará mis bolsillos?
¿Quién liquidará mis deudas?
A saber, ¿quién pondrá fin a mi diario
al caer la última hoja en mi calendario?
¿Quién hablará entre sollozos?
¿Quién besará mis ojos para darles la luz?
¿Quién rezará a mi memoria, Dios lo tenga en su gloria, y brindará a mi salud?
¿Y quién hará pan de mi trigo?
¿Quién se pondrá mi abrigo el próximo diciembre?
¿Y quién será el nuevo dueño de mi casa y mis sueños y mi sillón de mimbre?
¿Quién abrirá mis cajones?
¿Quién leerá mis canciones con morboso placer?
¿Quién se acostará en mi cama, se pondrá mi pijama y gozará mi mujer?
¿Quién me traerá crisantemos el primero de noviembre?
A Saber, ¿quién pondrá fin a mi diario
al caer la última hoja en mi calendario...?
ezenlaweb.com
Joan Manuel Serrat's song, "Si la muerte pisa mi huerto," is a reflective and poignant piece that contemplates mortality and the inevitability of death. The lyrics of the song ask a series of questions about the moments following one's passing and are an introspective exploration of the impact one has on their loved ones and community. The song starts with the line, "If death steps on my orchard, who will sign that I died of natural death?" The first question immediately sets the tone for the song, as it forces the listener to contemplate their own mortality and the reality that death comes for all, regardless of when or where it strikes.
The song continues with a series of questions about the act of dying, the rituals surrounding death and burial, and the aftermath. Serrat asks who will notify his community of his passing, who will care for his beloved dog, who will pay for his burial, who will buy flowers for his funeral, and who will be the good friend who dies with him. Each question is followed by a pause, allowing the listener to reflect on the implications of each question and delve deeper into the meaning of the song.
The final verse of the song focuses on the aftermath of death and the impact it has on the loved ones left behind. The lyrics ask who will open his drawers, read his songs with lewd pleasure, and sleep in his bed with his wife. The song ends with the haunting repetition of the line, "Who will put an end to my story, with the falling of the last leaf on my calendar?"
Line by Line Meaning
Si la muerte pisa mi huerto,
If death sets foot on my property,
¿quién firmará que he muerto de muerte natural?
Who will sign that I died of natural causes?
¿Quién lo voceará en mi pueblo?
Who will announce it in my town?
¿Quién pondrá un lazo negro al entreabierto portal?
Who will place a black ribbon on my partially open door?
¿Quién será ese buen amigo que morirá conmigo, aunque sea un tanto así?
Who will be that good friend who will die with me, even if they are just a little bit?
¿Quién mentirá un Padre Nuestro y "a rey muerto, rey puesto" pensará para sí?
Who will say a fake Hail Mary and think to themselves "the king is dead, long live the king"?
¿Quién cuidará de mi perro?
Who will take care of my dog?
¿Quién pagará mi entierro y una cruz de metal?
Who will pay for my burial and a metal cross?
¿Cuál de todos mis amores ha de comprar las flores para mi funeral?
Which of my loves will buy the flowers for my funeral?
¿Quién vaciará mis bolsillos?
Who will empty my pockets?
¿Quién liquidará mis deudas?
Who will settle my debts?
A saber, ¿quién pondrá fin a mi diario al caer la última hoja en mi calendario?
Who will put an end to my diary when the last page falls off my calendar?
¿Quién hablará entre sollozos?
Who will speak through sobs?
¿Quién besará mis ojos para darles la luz?
Who will kiss my eyes to give them light?
¿Quién rezará a mi memoria, Dios lo tenga en su gloria, y brindará a mi salud?
Who will pray for my memory, may God have it in his glory, and toast to my health?
¿Y quién hará pan de mi trigo?
And who will make bread with my wheat?
¿Quién se pondrá mi abrigo el próximo diciembre?
Who will wear my coat next December?
¿Y quién será el nuevo dueño de mi casa y mis sueños y mi sillón de mimbre?
And who will be the new owner of my house, my dreams, and my wicker armchair?
¿Quién abrirá mis cajones?
Who will open my drawers?
¿Quién leerá mis canciones con morboso placer?
Who will read my songs with a morbid pleasure?
¿Quién se acostará en mi cama, se pondrá mi pijama y gozará mi mujer?
Who will sleep in my bed, wear my pyjamas, and enjoy my woman?
¿Quién me traerá crisantemos el primero de noviembre?
Who will bring me chrysanthemums on the first of November?
A saber, ¿quién pondrá fin a mi diario al caer la última hoja en mi calendario...?
Who will put an end to my diary when the last page falls off my calendar...?
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Victor Paredes
Pasarán mil años y jamás se levantarán artista de éste nivel Serrat un genio , único grande entre los grandes
Reme Camps Aguilar
Sin ninguna duda !! A hecho tanto por la musica y cultura .a nivel mundial ..que siempre sus letras. No dejan indiferente a nadie !! Le admiro y respeto
Por igual !! Gracies Nano !!👏👏👏👏💓💓💓
Jesús Almendárez
Y Alberto Cortéz ?
pedro castilla
Esta canción tiene muchísimo mérito, porque camina al filo de la auto-compasión sin caer en ella, y cuando parece que está a punto de resbalar en ese charco, se rescata a si misma con unos versos de tranquila y hasta dulce socarronería. Por su parte, la música es preciosa en su simplicidad.
Anabel Mateo
I I. Rz
María Eugenia Lobos
❤
Rolando Avila
Ayer murió mi amigo, Roberto esta canción me hace reflexionar en su ausencia, ahora es parte del paraíso Dios lo bendiga
Eloy Venegas
Saludos a todos los que escuchen estas canciones ya que yo también las estoy escuchando gracias amigos fanáticos de Yoan Manuel cerrat
Carolina Claros
Quiero que suene en mi funeral una y otra vez..
Daniel Jauregui N
Es sin lugar a dudas el cantautor mas grande de la historia de España y el mundo, es excelso.