Simón Díaz is known worldwide as the author of Caballo Viejo, which appears on the 1980 album Caballo Viejo. It has become one of the most important folk songs in Venezuela and was a massive hit for the Franco-Spanish group the Gipsy Kings, who recorded a version of the song entitled Bamboleo.
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El Gavilán
Simón Díaz Lyrics
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¡Ay!, se comiera como se come al ganao
Si el gavilán se comiera
¡Ay!, se comiera como se come al ganao
Ya yo me hubiera comido al gavilán colorao
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Este gavilán, primito
Oye, primito, pequeño y gran volador
Este gavilán, primito
Oye, primito, pequeño y gran volador
Que se remonta en lo alto
Para divisar al pichón
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Canoero del río Arauca
Del río Arauca pásame pa′l otro lao
Canoero del río Arauca
Del río Arauca pásame pa'l otro lao
Que me viene persiguiendo el gavilán colorao
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
En la barranca de Apure
¡Ay!, de Apure suspiraba un gavilán
En la barranca de Apure
Oye de Apure suspiraba un gavilán
Y en el suspiro decía
"Muchachas de Camaguán"
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Si el gavilán se comiera
Como se come al ganao
Ya yo me hubiera comido el gavilán colorao
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
The song "El Gavilán" by Simón Díaz captures the essence of rural Venezuelan culture through its playful lyrics and catchy melody. The lyrics tell the story of a gavilán, which is a type of hawk, and the interactions it has with the people of the region.
In the first verse, the songwriter expresses the desire to eat the gavilán, comparing it to how the hawk consumes livestock. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the power dynamics in rural communities, where the strong prey upon the weak. The songwriter emphasizes that if the gavilán were edible, they would have already devoured it, highlighting the struggle for survival in the harsh landscapes of Venezuela.
The chorus of the song repeats the sounds made by the gavilán, "pío, pío, pío," and "tao, tao, tao," adding a playful and rhythmic element. These sounds mimic the natural calls of the bird and add to the overall ambiance of the song.
The third verse introduces the character of a canoero, someone who navigates the Arauca River. They ask to be taken to the other side of the river, desperately trying to escape the pursuit of the gavilán. This verse adds a sense of tension and suspense to the song, as the canoero finds themselves in a precarious situation.
The final verse refers to the Apure region and a gavilán that sighs for the "muchachas de Camaguán." This line suggests that the gavilán is longing for love or companionship, adding a touch of romance to the song. The lyrical description of the Barranca de Apure, a geographical feature of the region, creates a vivid image of the natural surroundings.
The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the songwriter's earlier sentiment that if the gavilán were edible, they would have consumed it by now. Overall, "El Gavilán" celebrates the beauty of the Venezuelan countryside while exploring themes of survival, desire, and the delicate balance between humans and nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Si el gavilán se comiera
If the hawk would eat
¡Ay!, se comiera como se come al ganao
Oh, it would devour like livestock is eaten
Ya yo me hubiera comido al gavilán colorao
I would have already eaten the reddish hawk
Gavilán, qué, pío, pío, pío
Hawk, hey, chirp, chirp, chirp
Gavilán, qué, tao, tao, tao
Hawk, hey, hush, hush, hush
Este gavilán, primito
This hawk, little cousin
Oye, primito, pequeño y gran volador
Listen, little cousin, small yet great flyer
Que se remonta en lo alto
That soars high
Para divisar al pichón
To spot the nestling
Canoero del río Arauca
Canoeist of the Arauca river
Del río Arauca pásame pa′l otro lao
From the Arauca river, take me to the other side
Que me viene persiguiendo el gavilán colorao
As the reddish hawk is chasing me
En la barranca de Apure
On the cliff of Apure
¡Ay!, de Apure suspiraba un gavilán
Oh, a hawk sighed from Apure
Oye de Apure suspiraba un gavilán
Listen, a hawk sighed from Apure
Y en el suspiro decía
And in the sigh it said
"Muchachas de Camaguán"
"Girls from Camaguán"
Si el gavilán se comiera
If the hawk would eat
Como se come al ganao
Like livestock is eaten
Ya yo me hubiera comido el gavilán colorao
I would have already eaten the reddish hawk
Writer(s): Simon Diaz
Contributed by Hannah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.