De Cudillero
Victor Manuel Lyrics
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Sintió el frío en los huesos de la limpia madrugada,
Rondaba en su cabeza en la primera luz del alba,
Qué haría si mañana no saliera al mar su barca.
Peleando veinte años para al fin llegar a nada,
El faro y las mareas reconocen sus pisadas,
Apenas le nacieron como un juego se embarcaba,
Marinero arría la vela
Que está la noche tranquila y serena.
Presiente a quien le debe la moneda en que le pagan,
Nada esperaba de ellos porque no regalan nada,
Hay gente que negocia con torpeza tan extraña,
Como si no supieran o escondieran otras cartas.
Y al cabo nada debo si no hay pesca prendo fuego,
Me salgo al mar y quemo hasta el último aparejo,
Que carguen a su espalda y su conciencia un hombre menos,
Hoy siete de febrero, sello y firmo en Cudillero.
These lyrics are from the song "De Cudillero" by Víctor Manuel. The song tells the story of a fisherman who is descending down a hill outside his house early in the morning. As he feels the cold in his bones, he thinks about what he would do if his boat doesn't go out to the sea tomorrow. The fisherman has spent 20 years fighting to make ends meet, but to no avail. The lighthouse and tides recognize his footsteps, and he has been playing around boats since he was a child. He grew up in the sea and is familiar with the ocean's ways.
The fisherman has learned that some people are not fair in business, trading poorly and hiding their true intentions. He is aware that he owes money to someone who pays him, but that doesn't concern him much because he hasn't received any charity from anyone. He would rather set fire to his fishing gear and go out to the sea empty-handed if there isn't a single catch. He doesn't want to burden his conscience further. The fisherman signs off the song, scribing his name and the date, February 7th, in Cudillero.
Line by Line Meaning
Por esa cuesta abajo que hay saliendo de la casa,
As he walked downhill from his home, he felt the chill of the cold dawn in his bones.
Sintió el frío en los huesos de la limpia madrugada,
He felt the cold in his bones in the peaceful early morning.
Rondaba en su cabeza en la primera luz del alba,
As the sun rose for the first time that day, he was thinking about what he would do if his boat couldn't go out to sea tomorrow.
Qué haría si mañana no saliera al mar su barca.
He wondered what he would do if his boat couldn't go out to sea tomorrow.
Peleando veinte años para al fin llegar a nada,
After fighting for twenty years, he felt like he had accomplished nothing.
El faro y las mareas reconocen sus pisadas,
The lighthouse and tides were familiar with his footsteps.
Apenas le nacieron como un juego se embarcaba,
He began sailing as a child, as if it were a game.
Criándose entre redes de la mar nada extrañaba.
Growing up with fishing nets, he was used to the sea.
Marinero arría la vela
Sailor, lower the sail.
Que está la noche tranquila y serena.
Because the night is peaceful and calm.
Presiente a quien le debe la moneda en que le pagan,
He has a feeling that someone owes him money for his work.
Nada esperaba de ellos porque no regalan nada,
He didn't expect anything from them because they don't give anything away.
Hay gente que negocia con torpeza tan extraña,
Some people negotiate strangely and awkwardly.
Como si no supieran o escondieran otras cartas.
As if they didn't know or had other motives.
Y al cabo nada debo si no hay pesca prendo fuego,
If there's no catch, he'll burn everything and owe nothing.
Me salgo al mar y quemo hasta el último aparejo,
He'll leave for the sea and burn all his gear if there's no catch.
Que carguen a su espalda y su conciencia un hombre menos,
They'll have one less burden on their conscience and back.
Hoy siete de febrero, sello y firmo en Cudillero.
Today, February 7th, in Cudillero, he stamps and signs.
Contributed by Jake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@66utopia1
Esta cancion siempre me motiva, ya a los 54 sin miedo de emprender de cero... Mi ejemplo, mi abuela materna que quedo viuda con 5 hijas y todas decentes con hijos y nietos Universitarios gracias a ella aqui estoy mas fuerte que nunca... Se levantaba de manana sin comer solo tomaba agua del grifo para mantener a sus hijas... Ahora my hija Francisca ya Universitaria graduada del CSUMB (Califonia State University Monterey bay) en Psychology
@peperodriguez8827
Hermosa Historia, me encanta leer estas grandes historias
@rafaelplata1
Hoy es 7 de febrero y para mí es el comienzo del año.
@lucianoayala8569
Es ya noche en Argentina y está lloviendo... Dentro de poco empezará el otoño y estás canciones me acompañaran hasta la vuelta del verano mientras viajo durante los meses de estudio.... gracias nuevamente amigo,un abrazo gigante de este lado del mundo...
@rafaelplata1
Un 7 de febrero más. Preciosa canción de un poeta poco reconocido. Qué otra cosa en este mundo de idiotas!