Complainte de pablo neruda
Quilapayún Lyrics
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de celui qui s'est enfui
et fait les oieaux des Andes
se taire au coeur de la nuit.
Quand d'abord nous l'entendîmes
l'air était profond et doux,
un instrument anonyme
préludait on ne sait d'où.
Naïfs entre deux éclipses,
des paroles pour complot,
sans craindre l'apocalypse
nous jouions avec les mots.
Le ciel était de velours,
incompréhensiblement:
le soir tombe el les beaux jours
meurent on ne sait comment.
Si bas que volât l'aronde
dans le ciel de par ici,
la plus belle voix du monde
éffaçait les profhéties.
Comment croire, comment croire
au pas pesant des soldats,
quand j'entends la chanson noire
de Don Pablo Neruda.
The song "Complainte de Pablo Neruda" by Quilapayún tells the story of Neruda's escape from Chile in 1949 during a time of political turmoil. The song presents Neruda as a poetic hero who silences the birds of the Andes with his courage and determination. The lyrics describe how Neruda's voice was able to hold power over the oppressive political regime, as he was able to use poetry to connect with the people, defy censorship, and express his political beliefs.
The song opens with the singer stating that they will tell the legend of someone who fled and made the birds of the Andes stay silent in the heart of the night, referring to Neruda's escape from Chile to protect himself from persecution. The lyrics go on to describe the atmosphere in Chile at the time, where people were able to express themselves through language without fear of the consequences, and how Neruda's poetic voice had the power to conquer dictatorial forces.
Throughout the song, we see a deep admiration for Neruda, and the lyrics suggest that the poet's work, particularly works such as "Canto General," inspired opposition movements in Chile and Latin America more broadly. The song takes on a revolutionary spirit, with the singer questioning the power structures in place and urging listeners to join in protesting the oppressive government.
Line by Line Meaning
Je vais dire la légende
I will tell the legend
de celui qui s'est enfui
of he who ran away
et fait les oieaux des Andes
and made the birds of the Andes
se taire au coeur de la nuit.
be quiet in the heart of the night.
Quand d'abord nous l'entendîmes
When we first heard him
l'air était profond et doux,
the air was deep and soft,
un instrument anonyme
an anonymous instrument
préludait on ne sait d'où.
played a prelude from an unknown place.
Naïfs entre deux éclipses,
Naive between two eclipses,
des paroles pour complot,
words for a plot,
sans craindre l'apocalypse
without fearing the apocalypse
nous jouions avec les mots.
we played with words.
Le ciel était de velours,
the sky was velvet,
incompréhensiblement:
incomprehensibly:
le soir tombe el les beaux jours
the evening falls and the beautiful days
meurent on ne sait comment.
die we do not know how.
Si bas que volât l'aronde
As low as the swallow flew
dans le ciel de par ici,
in the sky around here,
la plus belle voix du monde
the most beautiful voice in the world
éffaçait les profhéties.
erased the prophecies.
Comment croire, comment croire
How to believe, how to believe
au pas pesant des soldats,
in the heavy step of soldiers,
quand j'entends la chanson noire
when I hear the black song
de Don Pablo Neruda.
of Don Pablo Neruda.
Contributed by Chloe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.