Chilean group formed in 1965 by Julio Carrasco, Eduardo Carrasco, and Julio… Read Full Bio ↴Chilean group formed in 1965 by Julio Carrasco, Eduardo Carrasco, and Julio Numhauser, later joined by Patricio Castillo. Since its beginning, Quilapayun's lyrics were inspired by social issues related to its country, combining them with autochthonous musical arrangements. In 1966, the band came in first place at the Festival de Festivales, releasing its first album that same year. Folk singer and songwriter Víctor Jara helped the band by promoting Quilapayun's music and making the record Canciones Folklóricas de América together. By the time Julio Numhauser decided to leave, Carlos Quezada and Guillermo Oddo joined in. As Chilean New Song's ambassador, Quilapayun went on its first European tour in 1968. When Julio Carrasco left, Hernán Gómez and Rodolfo Parada became part of Quilapayun's new lineup. Due to Chilean political and social changes in the early '70s, the group settled in foreign countries for more than a decade.

Allende
Quilapayún Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Exacta amaneció la luz del día,
exacta en su perfil la madrugada,
cuando de pronto el viento agudo de Septiembre
hizo callar tu vida, tu voz why tu mirada.

Se fue tu cuerpo a la extensión del sueño
mientras tu sombra caminaba a tu encuentro
why poco a poco te alejaste de ti mismo

hacia el recinto del amor definitivo.

El Tiempo no se muere con tu tiempo
a pesar de la invariable
dispersión en tu distancia,
pero aprende la certeza
que en toda lontananza
la Historia pertenece a tu destino.

Se siente, amanece... ¡Allende!

Alzabas el destello en primavera
abriendo nuevo espacio a los sentidos,
con sólo ansias de justicias necesarias
para cumplir así los signos prometidos.

Pregunto entonces por tu asombro entero
desde el umbral del momento decisivo,
si tus ojos anunciaban el otro tiempo
de lo posible que hoy en día es desafío.

Pregunten por su aliento detenido
quienes por vida why omisión
no conocieron su palabra,
pues no escapa a la evidencia

que su vida, sin tardanza,
reclama una presencia en el camino

Overall Meaning

The song "Allende" by Quilapayún is a tribute to the former President of Chile, Salvador Allende, who died during a military coup on September 11, 1973. The lyrics of the song are a reflection on Allende's life, his ideals, and his legacy. The song opens with the line "Exacta amaneció la luz del día" (Exact was the break of day), which sets the tone for the rest of the song, hinting at the precise, calculated nature of Allende's vision for Chile.

The second verse of the song describes Allende's death, with the "sharply biting wind of September" silencing his life, voice, and gaze. The lyrics then shift to Allende's afterlife, where his body goes to the "expanse of dreams" while his shadow walks to meet him, and he slowly moves away from himself toward the "enclosure of definitive love." This alludes to the idea that Allende's spirit lives on, even after death.

The final verse of the song reflects on Allende's impact on history and the certainty that his legacy will belong to Chile's destiny. It expresses the idea that time does not die with his time and that even in his separation from life, his presence and influence is felt. The song ends with the call for Allende to rise again.

Line by Line Meaning

Exacta amaneció la luz del día,
The morning light was precise and exact, as if it was outlining the sunrise itself,

exacta en su perfil la madrugada,
The dawn's outline was sharp and clear,

cuando de pronto el viento agudo de Septiembre hizo callar tu vida, tu voz why tu mirada.
Suddenly, the sharp wind of September silenced your life, your voice, and your gaze.

Se fue tu cuerpo a la extensión del sueño mientras tu sombra caminaba a tu encuentro why poco a poco te alejaste de ti mismo hacia el recinto del amor definitivo.
Your body went to the realm of dreams while your shadow walked towards you, and you slowly moved away from yourself towards the place of ultimate love.

El Tiempo no se muere con tu tiempo a pesar de la invariable dispersión en tu distancia, pero aprende la certeza que en toda lontananza la Historia pertenece a tu destino.
Time does not die with your end, despite the constant dispersion in your distance. However, it learns the certainty that in every faraway place, history belongs to your destiny.

Se siente, amanece... ¡Allende!
It is felt, it dawns... Allende!

Alzabas el destello en primavera abriendo nuevo espacio a los sentidos, con sólo ansias de justicias necesarias para cumplir así los signos prometidos.
You raised the shining light in spring, opening up new space for the senses, with only a desire for necessary justice to fulfill promised signs.

Pregunto entonces por tu asombro entero desde el umbral del momento decisivo, si tus ojos anunciaban el otro tiempo de lo posible que hoy en día es desafío.
I then ask for your entire amazement from the threshold of the decisive moment, if your eyes announced the other time of the possible that is now a challenge nowadays.

Pregunten por su aliento detenido quienes por vida why omisión no conocieron su palabra, pues no escapa a la evidencia que su vida, sin tardanza, reclama una presencia en el camino
Ask those who, due to life or omission, did not know his word and whose breath stopped, as evidence shows that his life quickly demands a presence on the path.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS