While fully supportive of the Cuban Revolution, Milanés was critical of some aspects of the Cuban regime. He took official positions but allegedly avoided participating in pro-government campaigns; on January 25, 2007, he signed a petition supporting Puerto Rico's independence from the United States of America.
A number of artists have performed with him; among them Silvio Rodríguez, Joaquín Sabina, Ana Belén, Lilia Vera, Joan Manuel Serrat, Víctor Manuel, etc. Among his songs, "Yolanda", "Yo me quedo", "Amo a esta isla", "Yo pisaré las calles nuevamente", "Para Vivir", and "El breve espacio en que no estás" are especially well-known.
Since his first recording ("Versos sencillos de José Martí" in 1973), he issued more than 40 solo records, and many more in collaboration with other artists from Cuba, elsewhere in Latin America, and Spain.
The heyday of his creativity occurred probably in the early 1980s, with his records "El guerrero", "Yo me quedo", and "Comienzo y final de una verde mañana".
La Vida No Vale Nada
Pablo Milanés Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Si no es para perecer
Porque otros puedan tener
Lo que uno disfruta y ama
La vida no vale nada
Si yo me quedo sentado
Después que he visto y soñado
La vida no vale nada
Cuando otros se están matando
Y yo sigo aquí cantando
Cual si no pasara nada
La vida no vale nada
Si escucho un grito mortal
Y no es capaz de tocar
Mi corazón que se apaga
La vida no vale nada
Si ignoro que el asesino
Cogió por otro camino
Y prepara otra celada
La vida no vale nada
Si se sorprende a otro hermano
Cuando supe de antemano
Lo que se le preparaba
La vida no vale nada
Si cuatro caen por minuto
Y al final por el abuso
Se decide la jornada
La vida no vale nada
Si tengo que posponer
Otro minuto de ser
Y morirme en una cama
La vida no vale nada
Si en fin lo que me rodea
No puedo cambiar cual fuera
Lo que tengo y que me ampara
Y por eso para mí
La vida no vale nada
Pablo Milanés's song La Vida No Vale Nada is a poignant commentary on the value of life, and how it is often compromised by societal inequalities, ignorance or apathy. The lyrics express how life is not worth anything unless it is lived meaningfully and with purpose. The first stanza speaks of the futility of life if it is lived only to perish, especially when the things that bring joy and love to one's life are taken away by someone else. The second stanza admonishes us for our complacency when we see opportunities to make a difference but do nothing about it. It is a call to action and to take advantage of every chance one has to make a change. The third stanza highlights the irony of life when one is singing while others suffer and die. It also questions the value of one's life if it is not spent fighting for a better world. The fourth and fifth stanzas emphasize the need to be aware of the pain and suffering of others and to act with compassion. The final stanza concludes with the assertion that life is only worth living if one can make a positive impact on the world and take advantage of every moment that one has to do so.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was written and performed by Pablo Milanés during a time of political and social upheaval in Cuba, and its powerful message resonated with audiences throughout Latin America. Another notable fact is that the song has been covered by many artists, including Celia Cruz, who added her own unique interpretation to it. It has also been used in various films and documentaries, and was featured in the popular Netflix series Narcos.
The chords of the song are fairly simple and follow a basic pattern of Am, Em, F, G, and C.
Line by Line Meaning
La vida no vale nada
Life is meaningless
Si no es para perecer
If it is not to die
Porque otros puedan tener
So that others can have
Lo que uno disfruta y ama
What one enjoys and loves
Si yo me quedo sentado
If I sit still
Después que he visto y soñado
After I have seen and dreamed
Que en todas partes me llaman
That I am called everywhere
Cuando otros se están matando
When others are killing each other
Y yo sigo aquí cantando
And I am still here singing
Cual si no pasara nada
As if nothing is happening
Si escucho un grito mortal
If I hear a deadly scream
Y no es capaz de tocar
And I am not moved
Mi corazón que se apaga
My dying heart
Si ignoro que el asesino
If I ignore that the killer
Cogió por otro camino
Took another path
Y prepara otra celada
And is preparing another trap
Si se sorprende a otro hermano
If another brother is surprised
Cuando supe de antemano
When I knew beforehand
Lo que se le preparaba
What was being prepared for him
Si cuatro caen por minuto
If four fall per minute
Y al final por el abuso
And in the end, due to the abuse
Se decide la jornada
The fate is sealed
Si tengo que posponer
If I have to postpone
Otro minuto de ser
Another moment of being
Y morirme en una cama
And die in a bed
Si en fin lo que me rodea
If in the end what surrounds me
No puedo cambiar cual fuera
I cannot change it, regardless
Lo que tengo y que me ampara
What I have and what protects me
Y por eso para mí
And that is why for me
La vida no vale nada
Life is meaningless
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PEDRO PABLO MILANES ARIAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ORRWELL1984
La vida no vale nada
si no es para perecer
porque otros puedan tener
lo que uno disfruta y ama.
La vida no vale nada
si yo me quedo sentado
después que he visto y soñado
que ne todas partes me llaman.
La vida no vale nada
cuando otros se están matando
y yo sigo aqui cantando
cual si no pasara nada.
La vida no vale nada
si escucho un grito mortal
y no es capaz de tocar
mi corazón que se apaga.
La vida no vale nada
si ignoro que el asesino
cogió por otro camino
y prepara una celada.
La vida no vale nada
si se sorprende otro hermano
cuando supe de antemano
lo que se le preparaba.
La vida no vale nada
si cuatro caen por minuto
y al final por el abuso
se decide la jornada.
La vida no vale nada
si tengo que posponer
otro minuto de ser
y morirme en una cama.
La vida no vale nada
si en fin lo que me rodea
no puedo cambiar qual fuera
lo que tengo y me ampara.
Y por eso para mi
la vida no vale nada."
@BushTelegraph
La Vida No Vale Nada
Life is worth nothing if it is not to perish
So others can have what they enjoy and love
Life is worth nothing if I remain seated
After all I have seen and dreamed call me from all quarters.
Life is worth nothing when others are killing themselves
And I'm just keep singing as if nothing happened.
Life is worth nothing if I hear a deadly scream
And that's not capable of touching and stopping my heart
Life is worth nothing if I ignore that the murderer
Who took another path and prepares another ambush
Life is worth nothing if a brother is surprised
When he knew in advance what was being prepared for him
Life is worth nothing if four fall per minute
And, in the end, the day is decided by the outrage
Life is worth nothing if I have to postpone
Another minute of existence and end up dying in bed
Life is worth nothing if in the end I can't change
what surrounds me, what I have and what protects me
and that's why, for me,
Life is worth nothing.
https://workersbushtelegraph.com.au/2022/11/23/pablo-milanes-a-musical-giant-has-fallen/
@denisebrunet2091
Si me preguntan que es la empatía, es esta canción.. Gracias Pablo!
@gloriasueiro6261
El mejor homenaje es seguir escuchando y cantando tus canciones.Descansa en paz
@mariavaldi7714
Que en paz descanse el maestro Pablo Milanés
@luisagalvezgomez8581
D. E. P💜🥀🥀
@marcharari7328
@Luisa Gálvez Gómez RIP maestro
@fabiobarona5233
Uno de los mejores representantes de la Nueva Troba, cantor de la Patria Grande
@carlosalfonsoocumarezpuent7403
El domingo 27 de noviembre, hice un comentario en mi programa Merengueros 650 y al final puse esa cancion..... Bellisima
@diegoteruel7069
Precioso: Una proclama insuperable. De què maravilloso planeta has venido a este miserable mundo? Gracias Pablo, te queremos!
@eduar60
Pablo Milanés .Permanecerá eternamente en nuestra memoria. Sit tibi terra levis.
@mafequinalzate
Ayyy 🙈 triste noticia. Nuestro gran maestro