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.

El Aparecido
Victor Jara Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Abre sendas por los cerros
Deja su huella en el viento
El águila le da el vuelo
Y lo cobija el silencio

Nunca se quejó de frío
Nunca se quejó del sueño
El pobre siente su paso

Y lo sigue como ciego

Córrele, córrele, córrela
Por aquí, por allí, por allá
Córrele, córrele, córrela
Córrele que te van a matar
Córrele, córrele, córrela
Córrele que te van a matar
Córrele, córrele, córrela

Su cabeza es rematada
Por cuervos con garra de oro
Como lo ha crucificado
La furia del poderoso

Hijo de la rebeldía
Lo siguen veinte más veinte
Porque regala su vida
Ellos le quieren dar muerte

Córrele, córrele, córrela
Por aquí, por allí, por allá
Córrele, córrele, córrela
Córrele que te van a matar
Córrele, córrele, córrela

Córrele que te van a matar
Córrele, córrele, córrela

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Victor Jara's song "El Aparecido" describe the story of a revolutionary figure who roams the hills, leaving his mark on the wind and being sheltered by silence. He braves the cold and the exhaustion without complaint, and the poor follow him blindly. However, the powerful have marked him for death and he is pursued by those who want to end his life. The imagery of his head being surrounded by crows with talons of gold highlights the violent nature of those who wish to control him. Despite the danger he faces, he continues to lead the way for those who seek freedom and to resist oppressive forces. This song is a powerful call to action, motivating individuals to take up the cause of freedom and to fight against those who seek to oppress them.

Line by Line Meaning

Abre sendas por los cerros
He forges paths through the hills

Deja su huella en el viento
His mark lingers in the wind

El águila le da el vuelo
The eagle gives him wings

Y lo cobija el silencio
And he is sheltered by the silence

Nunca se quejó de frío
He never complained of the cold

Nunca se quejó del sueño
He never complained of sleep

El pobre siente su paso
The poor feel his presence

Y lo sigue como ciego
And follow him blindly

Córrele, córrele, córrela
Run, run, run

Por aquí, por allí, por allá
Here, there, everywhere

Córrele que te van a matar
Run or they'll kill you