Con aire de nocturna y de bohemia Tabaré reúne en sus composiciones la fisonomía y el sentimiento del hombre cotidiano, conjugando en cada uno de sus textos la plena poesía y la libre imaginación, con la calidez y el compromiso, que solo la jerarquía musical pueden darle a ese entorno poético.
Candombe de la Libertad
Tabaré Cardozo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oyen mi silencio donde estoy
Tras de la puerta que se cierra
Soplan tierras de opresión
Por eso saben mis ancestros que me voy
Oigo las monedas tintinear
Y a los mercaderes celebrar
Y a mi suerte de este azar
Siete tambores en la noche de altamar
Va mi voz a cantar la canción de la libertad
De la libertad
Sangra la madera del tambor
Bajo el latigazo del señor
Pero me trajo el gramillero
Su galera y su bastón
Para que siempre me acompañe el milongón
Saben mis ancestros que me voy
Borrarán mis huellas bajo el sol
Abriendo el viento del camino
Antes que el blanco en su ambición
Le ponga precio a mi cabeza y corazón
Va mi voz a cantar la canción de la libertad
De la libertad
Va mi voz a cantar la canción de la libertad
De la libertad
Va mi voz a cantar la canción de la libertad
De la libertad
Va mi voz a cantar la canción de la libertad
De la libertad
Va mi voz a cantar la canción de la libertad
De la libertad
The lyrics of Tabaré Cardozo's Candombe de la Libertad evoke themes of freedom, oppression, and ancestry. The verses refer to the singer's ancestors who can hear his silence and know that he is leaving. The lines "Tras de la puerta que se cierra, Soplan tierras de opresión" suggest that the singer is leaving to escape oppression, but his ancestors are aware of his departure as the wind carries the message. The next verse mentions the sound of coins and merchants celebrating, which could symbolize the oppressive power that the singer is escaping from. The singer also mentions the "Siete tambores en la noche de altamar," which could represent the candombe, a Uruguayan music and dance genre rooted in African traditions that has been used historically as a means of resistance against oppression. The singer asserts that their voice will sing the song of freedom, and they will leave behind the oppressive forces that have marked their life.
In the following verse, the singer mentions the bleeding wood of the drum under the lord's lash, which once again alludes to the pain and oppression that the singer is fleeing. However, the "gramillero" (a person who provides medical attention through natural remedies) helps the singer by offering their "galera y su bastón," enabling them to continue their journey in safety. In the final verse, the singer emphasizes the importance of leaving no traces behind, allowing the wind to open the path before white colonizers can put a price on their head. The repetitions of "Va mi voz a cantar la canción de la libertad" further enforce the idea of the singer's voice as an instrument of resistance and freedom.
Overall, Candombe de la Libertad is a powerful song that highlights the importance of ancestry, freedom, and resistance in the face of oppression and colonization.
Line by Line Meaning
Saben mis ancestros que me voy
My ancestors know that I am leaving
Oyen mi silencio donde estoy
They hear my silence where I am
Tras de la puerta que se cierra
Behind the closing door
Soplan tierras de opresión
Lands of oppression blow
Por eso saben mis ancestros que me voy
That's why my ancestors know that I am leaving
Oigo las monedas tintinear
I hear the coins clinking
Y a los mercaderes celebrar
And the merchants celebrating
Saqué mis huesos de la hoguera
I took my bones out of the fire
Y a mi suerte de este azar
And to my chance of this fate
Siete tambores en la noche de altamar
Seven drums on the high seas at night
Va mi voz a cantar la canción de la libertad
My voice goes to sing the song of freedom
De la libertad
Of freedom
Sangra la madera del tambor
The wood of the drum bleeds
Bajo el latigazo del señor
Under the lash of the master
Pero me trajo el gramillero
But the medicine man brought me
Su galera y su bastón
His cart and his cane
Para que siempre me acompañe el milongón
So that the milonga always accompanies me
Borrarán mis huellas bajo el sol
They will erase my footprints under the sun
Abriendo el viento del camino
Opening the wind of the road
Antes que el blanco en su ambición
Before the white man in his ambition
Le ponga precio a mi cabeza y corazón
Puts a price on my head and heart
Writer(s): Tabara Cardozo
Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.