Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez (28 September 1932 – 15 September 1973) was a pe… Read Full Bio ↴Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez (28 September 1932 – 15 September 1973) was a pedagogue, theatre director, poet, singer-songwriter, and political activist from Chile. A distinguished theatre director, he devoted himself to the development of Chilean theatre, directing a broad array of works from locally produced Chilean plays, to the classics of the world stage, to the experimental work of Ann Jellicoe. Simultaneously he developed in the field of music and played a pivotal role among neo-folkloric artists who established the Nueva Canción Chilena (New Chilean Song) movement which led to a revolution in the popular music of his country under the Salvador Allende government. Shortly after the U.S. backed 11 September, 1973 Chilean coup he was arrested, tortured and ultimately machine gunned to death - his body was later thrown out into the street of a shanty town in Santiago. The contrast between the themes of his songs, on love, peace and social justice and the brutal way in which he was murdered transformed Jara into a symbol of struggle for human rights and justice across Latin America.

Ay Mi Palomita
Victor Jara Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ingrata goza tu gusto
Ingrata goza tu gusto
Ingrata goza tu gusto
Déjame a mi padecer
Déjame a mi padecer

Que una sola vida tengo
Que una sola vida tengo

Que una sola vida tengo
Y por ti la he de perder

Ay mi palomita
Como le gusta su palomar
Ay, surey, surey
Como le gusta su palomar

Larai lai lailailai lala
Larai lai lailailai lala
Larai lai lailailai lala
Lalai lai lara lai la
Lalai lai lara lai la

Matecito sobre el agua
Matecito sobre el agua
Matecito sobre el agua
Capullito de algodón
Capullito de algodón

Candadito de mi pecho
Candadito de mi pecho
Candadito de mi pecho
Llave de mi corazón
Llave de mi corazón

Ay mi palomita
Como le gusta su palomar
Ay, surey, surey
Como le gusta su palomar

Larai lai lailailai lala
Larai lai lailailai lala
Larai lai lailailai lala

Lalai lai lara lai la
Lalai lai lara lai la

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Victor Jara's song Ay Mi Palomita tell the story of a person who is being treated poorly by their lover. The singer begs their lover to let them suffer alone as they only have one life to live and they will lose it for the lover. The lines "Que una sola vida tengo y por ti la he de perder" (I only have one life and I will lose it for you) showcase the singer's loyalty and their willingness to sacrifice everything for the person they love, despite the treatment they receive.

The lyrics switch to the imagery of a little plant or "capullito de algodón" (cotton bud) floating on the water with a little cup of mate (a traditional South American drink), symbolizing the small and innocent things in life. The singer then compares the lock on their chest to the key to their heart, showing the significant contrast between the innocence of nature and the heartache caused by their lover. The repetition of the chorus "Ay mi palomita, como le gusta su palomar" (Oh my little dove, how it likes its dovecote) emphasizes the loyalty and dedication of the singer's love while also highlighting the arrogance of the lover, who enjoys having control over their partner.

Overall, the lyrics to Ay Mi Palomita are a poignant portrayal of a one-sided love that is both incredibly committed and incredibly painful.

Line by Line Meaning

Ingrata goza tu gusto
Ungrateful one, enjoy your pleasure

Déjame a mi padecer
Leave me to suffer

Que una sola vida tengo
For I only have one life

Y por ti la he de perder
And for you, I shall lose it

Ay mi palomita
Oh my little dove

Como le gusta su palomar
How much you love your dovecote

Ay, surey, surey
Oh, surely, surely

Larai lai lailailai lala
Larai lai lailailai lala

Lalai lai lara lai la
Lalai lai lara lai la

Matecito sobre el agua
Little mate over the water