Mi Viejo Mate Galleta
José Larralde Lyrics


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Mi viejo mate galleta
Que pena me dio perderte
Que mano tronchó tu suerte
Tal vez la mano del tiempo
Si hasta creí que eras eterno
Nunca imaginé tu muerte

En tu pancita verdosa
Cuántos paisajes miré
Cuántos versos hilvané
Mientras gozaba tu amargo
Cuántas veces te hice largo
Y vos sabías por qué

Cuando la yerba escaseaba
Por falta de patacones
Nunca pediste razones
Pero me diste consejos
Chupá, pero hacete viejo
Sin llegar a los talones

Y en esos negros inviernos
Cuando la escarcha blanqueaba
Tu cuerpito calentaba
Mis manos con su calor
Pa' que el amigo cantor
Se prendiera a la guitarra

Y ahí nomás se hacía la farra
Vos y yo, en un mano a mano
Mate y guitarra en el claro
Mate y guitarra en la sombra
En leguas a la redonda No hubo jagüel orejano

Ah, compañero y hermano
Que destino más sotreta
Nunca le di a la limeta
En vos encontré la calma




En este adiós pongo el alma
Mi viejo mate galleta

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of José Larralde's song "Mi Viejo Mate Galleta" lament the loss of a trusted companion - the singer's old "mate galleta", or mate cup. The singer expresses deep sorrow and regret for having lost the mate, wondering if it was merely time that brought about its end. The mate cup had been a constant presence in the singer's life, witnessing countless landscapes and serving as a source of inspiration for poetry. Even when times were tough and the yerba mate was scarce, the mate cup remained steadfast and offered words of wisdom to the singer, advising him to drink and age gracefully.


The loss of the mate cup becomes particularly poignant in the wintertime, when it provided warmth to the singer's hands and helped his musician friend to start singing. The mate and the guitar were constant companions, and their presence created a jovial atmosphere, even in the darkest of times. The singer mourns the loss of this faithful companion, who had provided so much calm and comfort over the years. The song is a tribute to the simple pleasures of life, and the special bonds that can form between human beings and inanimate objects.


Line by Line Meaning

Mi viejo mate galleta
The singer is lamenting the loss of their old mate (a type of Argentinian tea), which was a constant companion.


Que pena me dio perderte
The singer feels sorrow at having lost their mate.


Que mano tronchó tu suerte
The singer wonders what caused the end of their mate's life.


Tal vez la mano del tiempo
The artist speculates that time may have been the cause of their mate's demise.


Si hasta creí que eras eterno
The artist once believed that their mate would last forever.


Nunca imaginé tu muerte
The singer never expected their mate to die.


En tu pancita verdosa
The singer is referring to the green container that holds the mate, which is often made of a gourd.


Cuántos paisajes miré
The artist enjoyed many different views while drinking mate.


Cuántos versos hilvané
The artist composed many poems while drinking mate.


Mientras gozaba tu amargo
The artist enjoyed the bitter taste of the mate while creating art.


Cuántas veces te hice largo
The singer often made their mate last longer than it should have.


Y vos sabías por qué
The mate seemed to understand the artist's actions and intentions.


Cuando la yerba escaseaba
The singer recalls a time when they ran out of mate leaves or couldn't afford to buy more.


Por falta de patacones
The singer links the scarcity of mate leaves to a lack of funds.


Nunca pediste razones
The singer appreciates that the mate didn't demand an explanation for the shortage.


Pero me diste consejos
The artist learned from the mate's example and was advised to keep drinking and keep aging.


Chupá, pero hacete viejo
The artist understands that it's important to savor the mate and let it mature.


Sin llegar a los talones
The singer was advised to drink mate responsibly and not let it inhibit their abilities.


Y en esos negros inviernos
The singer reflects on the comfort that the mate provided during harsh winter months.


Cuando la escarcha blanqueaba
The artist describes the frost that would form on the ground in the winter, emphasizing how cold it was outside.


Tu cuerpito calentaba
The artist notes how the warmth of the mate helped to heat them up during cold days.


Mis manos con su calor
The mate's warmth was shared with the artist's hands while holding it.


Pa' que el amigo cantor
The mate was enjoyed while making music with friends.


Se prendiera a la guitarra
The mate helped to inspire creativity and was a natural accompaniment to guitar-playing.


Y ahí nomás se hacía la farra
The mate added to the enjoyment and relaxation of social gatherings.


Vos y yo, en un mano a mano
The mate was a partner in shared experiences with friends.


Mate y guitarra en el claro
The mate was often enjoyed in outdoor spaces and in the open air.


Mate y guitarra en la sombra
The mate was also a companion to moments of introspection and reflection.


En leguas a la redonda
The mate's influence extended far beyond just the artist and their friends.


No hubo jagüel orejano
The singer emphasizes that they never had to go without mate, even in remote areas.


Ah, compañero y hermano
The singer deeply values the relationship they had with their mate.


Que destino más sotreta
The artist sees the loss of their mate as an unfair and surprising event.


Nunca le di a la limeta
The artist never neglected or mistreated their mate.


En vos encontré la calma
The mate provided a sense of calm and peace to the artist.


En este adiós pongo el alma
The singer is deeply emotional about having to say goodbye to their mate.


Mi viejo mate galleta
The artist repeats the name of their mate as a way of emphasizing its importance and significance.




Writer(s): Jose Larralde

Contributed by Kayla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Miguel franco

Mi viejo mate galleta,
Que pena me dio perderte,
Que mano tronchó tu suerte,
Tal vez la mano del tiempo,
Si hasta creí que eras eterno,
Nunca imaginé tu muerte.
En tu pancita verdosa,
Cuantos paisajes miré,
Cuantos versos hilvané,
Mientras gozaba tu amargo.
Cuántas veces te hice largo,
Y vos sabías porqué.
Cuando la yerba escaseaba,
Por falta de patacones,
Nunca pediste razones,
Pero me diste consejos,
Chupá, pero hacete viejo,
Sin llegar a los talones.
Y en esos negros inviernos,
Cuando la escarcha blanqueaba,
Tu cuerpito calentaba,
Mis manos con su calor,
Pa que el amigo cantor,
Se prendiera a la guitarra,
Y ahí nomás se hacía la farra,
Vos y yo, en un mano a mano,
Mate y guitarra en el claro,
Mate y guitarra en la sombra,
En leguas a la redonda,
No hubo jagüel orejano.
Ah, compañero y hermano,
Que destino tan sotreta,
Nunca le di a la limeta,
En vos encontré la calma.
En este adiós pongo el alma,
Mi viejo mate galleta.



All comments from YouTube:

Fernando Ponce

El mate galleta es una calabaza aplastada, muy común en la República Oriental del Uruguay, es a diferencia de la calabaza común, una planta rastrera. Su particular forma y tamaño recuerda a la galleta de campo. Al ser aplastada permite al cebar, mojar sólo la yerba de un lado y luego dar vuelta la bombilla en el lado de reserva de yerba seca. Saludos!

Blanco Fernandez

yo me pregunto una y mil veces!!! como este tipo no esta en un billete..?? x favor haganlo ante q dios lo llame.. haganlo en vida.. se lo merece

K-chivache 613

O el nombre de alguna calle

Claudia Olano

correcto

Vicente Rueja

LO ESCUCHO A DON JOSE LARRALDE DESE MI JUVENTUD Y A MIS CASI 70 AÑOS LO SIGO ESCUCHANDO , CARAJO ¡¡¡ QUE PROFUNDAS SON SUS CANCIONES . NO ABRA OTRO IGUAL .

edum45

Don pepe Larralde y Iorio son dos genios que dicen lo que sienten! musica Argentina de sangre Argentina! Aguente José y aguante Huanguelén!

Anan Cara

Gracias. Abrazos desde Brasil para todos nuestros hermanos de América Latina.

Carmen Mazzotta

Que el señor les bendiga ricamente

Leo Doble A

Un abrazo hermano

Miguel franco

Mi viejo mate galleta,
Que pena me dio perderte,
Que mano tronchó tu suerte,
Tal vez la mano del tiempo,
Si hasta creí que eras eterno,
Nunca imaginé tu muerte.
En tu pancita verdosa,
Cuantos paisajes miré,
Cuantos versos hilvané,
Mientras gozaba tu amargo.
Cuántas veces te hice largo,
Y vos sabías porqué.
Cuando la yerba escaseaba,
Por falta de patacones,
Nunca pediste razones,
Pero me diste consejos,
Chupá, pero hacete viejo,
Sin llegar a los talones.
Y en esos negros inviernos,
Cuando la escarcha blanqueaba,
Tu cuerpito calentaba,
Mis manos con su calor,
Pa que el amigo cantor,
Se prendiera a la guitarra,
Y ahí nomás se hacía la farra,
Vos y yo, en un mano a mano,
Mate y guitarra en el claro,
Mate y guitarra en la sombra,
En leguas a la redonda,
No hubo jagüel orejano.
Ah, compañero y hermano,
Que destino tan sotreta,
Nunca le di a la limeta,
En vos encontré la calma.
En este adiós pongo el alma,
Mi viejo mate galleta.

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