His musical career started at age 17 while he was doing his military service in the recently formed FAR (Revolutionary Armed Forces) created in late 1961 after the failed invasion of Cuba by the U.S.A. led mainly by the C.I.A. and the Cuban exiles in that country, the self-titled "Gusanos", ordered by former president John F. Kennedy.
The bombings by the U.S.A. where targeted mainly towards the urban settlements in La Habana, Santiago de Cuba and San Antonio de los Baños, the latter in which Silvio was living at the time. He was working as an educator for the Alphabetization Program of the Revolution in which he taught History, Mathematics, Geography, Grammar and Politics.
Esteban Baños was the friend that taught him how to play guitar while they were in the army, it was around 1964 when Silvio wrote his first songs. In 1967 he finished his Army training and started his career as a musician mainly as a solo artist but also shortly as a part of the Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC (GESI).
QUIÉN FUERA
Silvio Rodríguez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
En el umbral de tu misterio
Quién fuera Ali Baba
Quién fuera el mítico Simbad
Quién fuera un poderoso sortilegio
Quién fuera encantador
Estoy buscando una escafandra
Quién fuera Jackes Cousteau
Quién fuera Nemo el capitán
Quién fuera el Batiscafo de tu abismo
Quién fuera explorador
Corazón, corazón obscuro
Corazón, corazón con muros
Corazón que se esconde
Corazón que está dónde, corazón
Corazón en fuga herido de dudas de amor
Estoy buscando melodías
Para tener como llamarte
Quién fuera ruiseñor
Quién fuera Lenon y Mc Artney
Sindo Garay, violeta, chico barque
Quién fuera tu trovador
Corazón, corazón obscuro
Corazón, corazón con muros
Corazón que se esconde
Corazón que esta donde el corazón
Corazón en fuga herido de dudas de amor (corazón)
The lyrics of Silvio Rodriguez's song Quien fuera are about a person who is searching for different things that would allow them to be closer to the person they love. The singer is searching for a word to describe what they feel when they are with their loved one. They compare themselves to Ali Baba and Simbad, characters from the Arabian Nights, who were able to enter secret places and find hidden treasures. The singer wants to be able to enter the mystery that surrounds their loved one and find the word that will perfectly describe their emotions.
The second verse is about the desire to explore the person's innermost feelings. The singer wants to find an "escafandra" (diving suit) to dive into the "sea of delirium" that represents the loved one's thoughts and emotions. They compare themselves to famous explorers like Jacques Cousteau and Captain Nemo, who were able to discover uncharted territories. The singer wants to be the "Batiscafo" (bathyscaphe) of the loved one's "abismo" (abyss), exploring the depths of their psyche.
The chorus talks about the loved one's heart being dark and hidden, with walls that make it difficult to reach. The singer feels like they are chasing after a wounded heart, full of doubts and uncertainties.
Overall, the lyrics of Quien fuera are about the desire to get closer to a loved one, to understand them better, and to find the perfect words to express one's feelings. The comparisons to legendary characters and explorers suggest that the loved one is a mysterious and uncharted territory that the singer wants to conquer.
Line by Line Meaning
Estoy buscando una palabra
I am searching for a special word that can express my feelings towards you
En el umbral de tu misterio
In the entrance of your mysterious nature
Quién fuera Ali Baba
I wish I were Ali Baba, who had the ability to open the doors of any treasure
Quién fuera el mítico Simbad
I wish I were Simbad - a legendary sailor with unparalleled navigation skills
Quién fuera un poderoso sortilegio
I wish I possessed a powerful magic spell that could make you mine
Quién fuera encantador
I wish I were a charming person who could win your heart effortlessly
Estoy buscando una escafandra
I am searching for a diving suit that can help me explore the deepest corners of your mind
Al pie del mar de los delirios
At the shore of a sea of fantasies
Quién fuera Jackes Cousteau
I wish I were Jacques Cousteau, a legendary explorer of the sea
Quién fuera Nemo el capitán
I wish I were Captain Nemo, who discovered the wonders of the ocean
Quién fuera el Batiscafo de tu abismo
I wish I were a deep-sea submersible, able to discover the depth of your soul
Quién fuera explorador
I wish I were an explorer, discovering new heights of your personality
Corazón, corazón obscuro
Heart, a dark and mysterious entity
Corazón, corazón con muros
Heart, guarded by thick walls
Corazón que se esconde
Heart, hiding from the world
Corazón que está dónde, corazón
Heart that is always present, heart of mine
Corazón en fuga herido de dudas de amor
Heart running away from the uncertainties of love
Estoy buscando melodías
I am searching for the perfect tune that can capture your attention
Para tener como llamarte
To have a catchy title to get your interest
Quién fuera ruiseñor
I wish I were a nightingale, singing my heart out to captivate you
Quién fuera Lenon y Mc Artney
I wish I were Lennon and McCartney, able to create timeless music that could sway your heart
Sindo Garay, violeta, chico barque
Sindo Garay, Violeta, Chico Barque - legendary musicians who could create lyrical wonders
Quién fuera tu trovador
I wish I were your troubadour, devotedly singing my heart out for you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Silvio Rodriguez Dominguez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@peartronink
hace 12 años cuando me divorcie y salí de casa escuche esta cancion y me partía el alma era como escuchar la tonada de la muerte, era tan doloroso, escucharla, era el fin, el hasta nunca y sentía que mi vida ya no seguiría adelante, ya mi vida estaba acabada se habían esfumado mis sueños e ilusiones de estar con mi familia mis hijos lo que habíamos construido, y hoy la escucho y es como recordar a un amigo que murió, ya solo lo recuerdo con cariño, el dolor... se fue
@joseluisamaut2244
Que episodio triste en tu vida pero el final de este breve episodio es como una potente chispa de luz que seguramente ha curado tu alma eso espero.
Adios.
@dancan119
Vivir es eso amigo, estamos como como condenados a estar en el medio de la pelea del amor y el odio.
@tramuntaneando
Que bonito Arturo, me identifico mucho con lo que escribes. Gracias por compartirlo, Y gracias a Silvio por regalarnos esta preciosidad. Gracias a los dos!
@porqueeramosjovenes6579
Gracias por compartir algo tan personal. Creo que las canciones tienen un poder evocador impresionante. Nos transportan en el tiempo. Nos hacen volver a sentir.
@JoseMorales-th1ft
Hay que seguir adelante compadre
@CarolinaFloVe
Mi hermano amaba la música de Silvio, lo escuchábamos todas las noches. Hoy hace 10 días que mi hermano falleció. Con el corazón destrozado escucho sola a Silvio. En su lápida pusimos una frase de una de sus canciones favoritas, De la ausencia y de ti. Hermano de mi vida, escucho tus canciones, todas te las dedico.
@pascualaguirre2757
A mi hermanito más amado igual le encantaba Silvio, hace 1 año y 1 mes falleció ,me iba a su pieza y escuchaba estas canciones, no hay Consuelo para mi corazón,es como si fuese ayer
Te amo hermanito por siempre mi ramoncito
@maryb5063
Escuchar a Silvio a solas era y sigue siendo una manera de recordar a mi viejo, ya cuatro años hacen que dejó este plano, pero me dejó tantas canciones...
Que abrazan, que alivian, que liberan.
Un abrazo fuerte.
@rocknocivo
Qué tristeza y que lindo al mismo tiempo, que con música tan linda recuerdes a tu ser querido.