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".
Si El Poeta Eres Tu
Pablo Milanés Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Como dijo el poeta,
Y el que ha tumbado estrellas
En mil noches
De lluvias coloridas eres tú,
Qué tengo yo que hablarte Comandante.
Si el que asomó al futuro su perfil
Fuiste tú, guerrero para siempre, tiempo eterno,
Qué puedo yo cantarte Comandante.
En vano busco en mi guitarra tu dolor
Y en mi jardín ya todo es bello no hay temor,
Qué puedo yo dejarte Comandante
Que no sea cambiar mi guitarra por tu suerte;
O negarle una canción al sol
O morir sin amor.
Qué puedo yo cantarte Comandante
Si el poeta eres tú
Como dijo el poeta
Y el que ha tumbado estrellas
En mil noches de lluvias coloridas eres tú,
Qué puedo yo cantarte Comandante.
Pablo Milanés's song "Si el poeta eres tú" is a tribute to Fidel Castro, who was the leader of the Cuban Revolution. The lyrics of the song express the poet's dilemma in what he can sing for a revolutionary leader who has achieved so much, who has changed their country so radically, and has accomplished so many things that he cannot match. In the song, Pablo Milanés wonders what he can do to repay the sacrifices and achievements of Fidel Castro. He acknowledges that the poet who has destroyed the stars is Fidel Castro, who stands tall even during the times of the great difficulties that his country has faced.
The song mentions Fidel Castro's military prowess, his early participation in the Cuban Revolution, and his wishes to shape the future of his country. The song also reflects on the price that Fidel Castro paid to shape the destiny of Cuba, for which he made great sacrifices. The lyrics go on to say that even if the singer tries to feel the pain of Fidel Castro and understand his struggles, he cannot change his guitar for Fidel's fate, nor can he refuse to sing songs for the sun or, worst yet, die without love. In the end, the song concludes that there is nothing that the singer can do to pay homage to Fidel Castro except to acknowledge his greatness and draw inspiration from his legacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Sí el poeta eres tú,
If you are the poet,
Como dijo el poeta,
As the poet said,
Y el que ha tumbado estrellas
And the one who has brought down stars
En mil noches
In a thousand nights
De lluvias coloridas eres tú,
Of colorful rains, that's you,
Qué tengo yo que hablarte Comandante.
What do I have to tell you, Commander?
Si el que asomó al futuro su perfil
If the one who showed the future of his profile
Y lo estrenó con voces de fusil
And debuted it with the sounds of rifles
Fuiste tú, guerrero para siempre, tiempo eterno,
It was you, warrior forever, eternal time,
Qué puedo yo cantarte Comandante.
What can I sing to you, Commander?
En vano busco en mi guitarra tu dolor
In vain I search for your pain in my guitar
Y en mi jardín ya todo es bello no hay temor,
And in my garden, everything is beautiful, there is no fear,
Qué puedo yo dejarte Comandante
What can I leave you, Commander,
Que no sea cambiar mi guitarra por tu suerte;
Other than to trade my guitar for your luck;
O negarle una canción al sol
Or deny a song to the sun
O morir sin amor.
Or die without love.
Qué puedo yo cantarte Comandante
What can I sing to you, Commander,
Si el poeta eres tú
If you are the poet
Como dijo el poeta
As the poet said
Y el que ha tumbado estrellas
And the one who has brought down stars
En mil noches de lluvias coloridas eres tú,
In a thousand nights of colorful rains, it's you,
Qué puedo yo cantarte Comandante.
What can I sing to you, Commander?
Writer(s): PABLO MILANES ARIAS
Contributed by Aria M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
claudia sur
Che
Che, tú lo sabes todo,
los recovecos de la Sierra,
el asma sobre la hierba fría,
la tribuna,
el oleaje en la noche
y hasta de qué se hacen
los frutos y las yuntas.
No es que yo quiera darte
pluma por pistola
pero el poeta eres tú.
(De Carta de noche)
Martin Sanchez
Hermosa canciòn.
carmaj156
Si el poeta siempre fuiste vos, Pablo. Gracias.
Miguel Angel Hernández Villalba
pablo pone en lo mas alto la trova cubana
Augusto Ricardo D'Achary
Que hermoso tema hasta la victoria ciempre
claudia sur
Che
Che, tú lo sabes todo,
los recovecos de la Sierra,
el asma sobre la hierba fría,
la tribuna,
el oleaje en la noche
y hasta de qué se hacen
los frutos y las yuntas.
No es que yo quiera darte
pluma por pistola
pero el poeta eres tú.
(De Carta de noche)
José Darío Sánchez Jaimes
Bello poema.
p2ranzioz2
Creo que esta canción también es dedicada a nuestro Fidel, me gusta mucho. O tal vez en la hermana Venezuela A Hugo (ánimo). Es muy bonita la canción. Me identifico. Desde México Viva Che, Fidel.
Daniel Estrada Olvera
Viva el Che, viva Fidel y Viva Chávez. ;)
thosoli
Sublime.
hecaZAMO
Che, vives por siempre!!!, luchador social Americano.....