Paul Mauriat (Marseille, 4 March 1925 – 3 November 2006 in Perpignan) was a… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Mauriat (Marseille, 4 March 1925 – 3 November 2006 in Perpignan) was a French orchestra leader, specializing in light music. Mauriat grew up in Marseilles and began leading his own band during the Second World War. In the 1950s he became musical director to at least two well-known French singers, Charles Aznavour and Maurice Chevalier, touring with them respectively. Mauriat composed the music for several French soundtracks (also released on Bel-Air) including Un Taxi Pour Tobrouk (1961), Horace 62 (1962) and Faites Sauter La Banque (1964). Many of Mauriat's recordings are recompositions of other composers' songs and music. Mauriat relied heavily on strings and synthesiser to create interesting music. The arrangements are usually very bright and busy with sensible use of the percussive section to deliver a grand style of performance. In his 70s and 80s live concerts, Mauriat often used singers to provide backing for numbers such as Penelope, Love is Blue and the World Melody section he arranged for his 1980 and 1982 concerts.

Guantanamera
Paul Mauriat Lyrics

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From Nuestras Canciones Vol. 2

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma
Yo soy un hombre sincero

De donde crece la palma
Why antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Mi verso es de un verde claro
Why de un carmÃn encendido
Mi verso es de un verde claro
Why de un carmÃn encendido
Mi verso es un ciervo herido
Que busca en el monte amparo

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
El arroyo de la sierra
Me complace mÃ¡s que el mar

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Paul Mauriat's song Guantanamera are a tribute to the people of Guantánamo, a town in Cuba known for its rich culture and history. The song speaks of the poet's desire to be remembered through his verses, to make a lasting impact on the world. He expresses his sincerity as a man and his roots in a place where the palm trees grow. He seeks refuge in the mountains like a wounded deer, using his words to find solace.

The second stanza speaks of the poet's passion, comparing his verses to the colors of nature. He uses clarity of green and boldness of red to convey his emotions - like nature, his words are full of life. He then describes his verses as a wounded deer seeking comfort in the mountains, allowing readers to delve into the depths of his soul.

In the final stanza, the poet further expresses his solidarity with the poor of the earth, desiring to share their luck and find solace in the simple things in life. He goes on to say that the beauty of the mountains and the streams bring him more joy than the vast expanses of the sea could ever offer, further underscoring his love for the land of Guantánamo.

Line by Line Meaning

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
The song's title repeated twice.

Yo soy un hombre sincero De donde crece la palma Yo soy un hombre sincero De donde crece la palma Why antes de morirme quiero Echar mis versos del alma
I am an honest man from the land of palm trees, and before I die, I would like to share my soulful poetry.

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
The song's title repeated twice again.

Mi verso es de un verde claro Why de un carmÃn encendido Mi verso es de un verde claro Why de un carmÃn encendido Mi verso es un ciervo herido Que busca en el monte amparo
My poem is colored with bright greens and reds, and it portrays a wounded deer seeking shelter in the forest.

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
The song's title repeated twice yet again.

Con los pobres de la tierra Quiero yo mi suerte echar Con los pobres de la tierra Quiero yo mi suerte echar El arroyo de la sierra Me complace mÃ¡s que el mar
I want to share the fate of the poor people on this earth. The stream in the mountains satisfies me more than the sea.

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
The song's title repeated twice once more.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: JOSE DIAZ, JOSEITO FERNANDEZ DIAZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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