* Reinaldo Hierrezuelo (Reinaldo Hierrezuelo la O or 'Hierro', solo voice and lead guitar/tres) (Santiago de Cuba, 30 December 1926)
* Reinaldo Creagh (Cirilo Reinaldo Creagh Veranes, solo voice and claves) (1917 or 1918?)
* Artistóteles Limonta (Artistóteles Raimundo Limonta, double bass and voice) (Santiago de Cuba, 15 March 1913)
* Pancho Cobas (Francisco Cobas la O, guitar) (Siboney, 1 April 1913)
* Ricardo Ortíz (Ricardo Ortíz Verdecia, solo voice, güiro, trumpet, maracas) (El Cristo (near Santiago de Cuba), 1934 or 1935?)
In the Dutch documentary 'Lagrimas Negras' they are shown as true supporters of the Cuban Revolution, bringing homage to the grave of 'Carlos Marx'. As Pancho Cobas explains, before the Revolution there was little opportunity to make money (except on Holidays), but after the Revolution musicians were asked to form bands and were employed by the state. They were judged by a 'Cultural Committee', which scaled them to determine their pay.
Reynaldo Hierrezuelo replaced Compay Segundo in his brother Lorenzo's band Los Compadres.
Discography
* Vieja Trova Santiaguera (1994) (NubeNegra/Intuition)
* Gusto y Sabor (1995) (NubeNegra/Intuition)
* Hotel Asturias (1996) (NubeNegra/Intuition)
* La Manigua (1998) (Virgin)
* Domino (2000) (Virgin)
* El Balcón del Adiós (2002) (Virgin)
Calla
Vieja Trova Santiaguera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
...frena como yo freno, mi decepcion
Calla como yo callo, mis sentimientos
...frena como yo freno, mi decepcion
Ponle rienda tenza al corazon
... y enseñale a ocultar sus amarguras
Para que no piense en mi...
... para que no llores mas
Si ella te ha olvidado, y por bien evocado
... no pensar en ti
Si es todo una blasfemia, tu nunca me quisiste
... porque mientes asi
Si no es posible que me engañes mas
... no me implores mas
No... me busques mas
... escucha este consejo y no vuelvas a engañar
en el mundo jamas
... jamas
The song "Calla" by Vieja Trova Santiaguera is a pleading ballad about the pain of unrequited love. The singer asks the listener to quiet their emotions and curb their disappointment, suggesting that they should control their heart and learn to hide their bitterness in order to move on. The refrain of "Calla como yo callo, mis sentimientos, frena como yo freno, mi decepcion" (Silence like I do, my feelings, hold back like I do, my disappointment) is repeated throughout the song, reinforcing the idea of hiding one's emotions.
The singer goes on to advise the listener to rein in their heart, so as to not think of the person who has forgotten them and to not cry anymore. They suggest that the listener has never truly loved them and is lying about their feelings. The singer advises the listener not to come looking for them anymore and to never deceive anyone else in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Calla como yo callo, mis sentimientos
Refrain from expressing your emotions like I do
...frena como yo freno, mi decepcion
Control your disappointment like I do
Ponle rienda tenza al corazon
Reign in your heart and its sorrows
... y enseñale a ocultar sus amarguras
Teach it to hide its bitterness
Para que no piense en mi...
So it doesn't think about me
... para que no llores mas
So it doesn't cry anymore
Si ella te ha olvidado, y por bien evocado
If she has forgotten about you, and it's best to remember that
... no pensar en ti
And to not think about you
Si es todo una blasfemia, tu nunca me quisiste
If it's all a lie that you never loved me
... porque mientes asi
Then why do you lie like that?
Si no es posible que me engañes mas
If it's not possible for you to deceive me anymore
... no me implores mas
Then don't beg me anymore
No... me busques mas
No...don't look for me anymore
... escucha este consejo y no vuelvas a engañar
Listen to this advice and don't deceive again
en el mundo jamas...
Never in the world
... jamas
...never
Contributed by Sydney G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.