La Vieja
Tamara Castro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alma y vida de Santiago,
Vieja como los coyuyos
Que cantan allá en mi pago.
Sangre de salitre y canto
Que corre por los senderos,
Polvadera, vid y farra
Yo la traigo de mis pagos
Donde el monte besa el cielo,
Hecha canto en mi guitarra
Y la del Sonco en el recuerdo.
Todos la llaman "la vieja"
Y... Ay! muchos me la han copiado,
Pero esta es la verdadera
Que canta todo Santiago.
Achalay mi chacarera,
Sonco 'i bulla en mis recuerdos
Y rescoldo de las coplas
Que cantaron mis abuelos.
Apenita se la escucha
La sangre me cosquillea,
Y hasta se salen del alma
Las penas y mudancean.
Compañera de mis noches,
Llamita de mis adentros
Pa' alumbrar a mis paisanos
Humildes pero contentos.
Todos la llaman "la vieja"
Y... Ay! muchos me la han copiado,
Pero esta es la verdadera
Que canta todo Santiago.
The song begins with the description of a type of Argentine folk music called chacarera, which is named after a type of rural estate or farm. The particular chacarera being referred to is "trunca," which means it has a certain rhythm and pauses in the middle unlike other varieties. The lyrics evoke the essence of Santiago del Estero, a province in the north-central part of Argentina known for its rich musical culture. The singer sings of the song's age and prominence in his home region, where it is as familiar as the wild bushes and the song of the coyuyos, a local bird species.
The second verse switches to a more personal tone, with the singer describing how the "blood of salt and song" runs through the paths and festivities of the Salavineros, a term believed to refer to the inhabitants of the Salavina region of Santiago del Estero. He emphasizes his own connection to this music through memories of his hometown, nestled in the mountains where nature meets the sky. The echoing presence of both his and the Sonco's guitar strings - a possible reference to a traditional group dance - keeps the melody alive in his mind.
In the last two stanzas, the singer highlights the emotional power of the chacarera as a means of expression. He describes his nostalgic attachment to the music, as it reminds him of his ancestors and invites him to let out his own sorrows and joys. The song takes on a spiritual dimension for him, shining a light on his "paisanos," simple but happy people who share in the tradition of "la vieja," the grandmother of all chacareras, a song that is universally recognized and beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Esta chacarera es trunca,
This Chacarera song is incomplete,
Alma y vida de Santiago,
The soul and life of Santiago,
Vieja como los coyuyos
Old like the thistles
Que cantan allá en mi pago.
That sing there in my town.
Sangre de salitre y canto
Blood of saltpetre and song
Que corre por los senderos,
That runs through the trails,
Polvadera, vid y farra
Dust, vineyards, and festivities,
Febril del salavinero.
Feverish like the salvinero (harvester).
Yo la traigo de mis pagos
I bring it from my town
Donde el monte besa el cielo,
Where the forest kisses the sky,
Hecha canto en mi guitarra
Made into a song on my guitar
Y la del Sonco en el recuerdo.
And that of Sonco in my memory.
Todos la llaman "la vieja"
Everyone calls it "the old one"
Y... Ay! muchos me la han copiado,
And... Oh! many have copied it from me,
Pero esta es la verdadera
But this is the true one
Que canta todo Santiago.
That sings throughout Santiago.
Achalay mi chacarera,
Achalay, my Chacarera song,
Sonco 'i bulla en mis recuerdos
Sonco's noise in my memories
Y rescoldo de las coplas
And embers of the verses
Que cantaron mis abuelos.
That my grandparents sang.
Apenita se la escucha
You can barely hear it,
La sangre me cosquillea,
My blood tingles,
Y hasta se salen del alma
And even from the soul,
Las penas y mudancean.
The sorrows dance and sway.
Compañera de mis noches,
Companion of my nights,
Llamita de mis adentros
Flame of my insides
Pa' alumbrar a mis paisanos
To enlighten my fellow countrymen
Humildes pero contentos.
Humble but content.
Todos la llaman "la vieja"
Everyone calls it "the old one"
Y... Ay! muchos me la han copiado,
And... Oh! many have copied it from me,
Pero esta es la verdadera
But this is the true one
Que canta todo Santiago.
That sings throughout Santiago.
Contributed by Madison Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.