* 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)
El Tren
Vieja Trova Santiaguera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
y lo llamó el Huracán,
podía viajar,
sin tener que viajar,
y cada día marcaba su diario de sueños con él.Quiso tener,
sin tener que pagar,
comió y bebió,
siempre de un manantial,
de esos que soñaba él.
Con cien cañones de plata vivió de maravilla,
murió en el barro de la sociedad.
Tenía en el bolsillo una colilla,
que la vida es un cigarro que no se debe apagar.
No hay sitio aquí,
para ese tal Huracán,
que deja rastros de asfalto y de barras de bar,
y de colegas de brega,
que galopaban con él.
Con cien cañones de plata vivió de maravilla,
murió en el barro de la sociedad.
Tenía en el bolsillo una colilla,
que la vida es un cigarro que no se debe apagar.Tuvo su reina,
sus noches,
sus juegos de amar.
Y en el reflejo de un coche,
lo hacía real.
Que olía como el dolor,
decía la gente de él.
Como el dolor de las flores que duerme,
con el Huracán.
The song "El Tren" by Vieja Trova Santiaguera tells the story of a man who lived on a train and named it "El Huracán." He was able to travel without having to pay and each day he would record his dreams in a diary. He wanted to have everything he desired without having to pay for it, and he would eat and drink from a spring as sweet as the kisses he dreamed of. The lyrics suggest that he lived a life of luxury, but ultimately died in the mud of society.
The second part of the song talks about how there is no room for this man and his train, as they leave behind tracks of asphalt, bar stools, and fighting friends. The imagery suggests that he was a wild and free-spirited man who didn't follow the rules of society. The chorus repeats the first verse, reminding us that the man had a magical life but that he ultimately met his downfall. The line "la vida es un cigarro que no se debe apagar" or "life is a cigarette that should not be put out" brings a sense of melancholy to the song, as it reflects on the fleeting nature of life and how it should be lived to the fullest.
Overall, "El Tren" is a nostalgic and somewhat sad tribute to a man who lived life on his own terms, but ultimately succumbed to the pressures of society. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and the melody is beautifully melancholic, making it a memorable song that has resonated with audiences for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
Vivió en un tren, y lo llamó el Huracán, podía viajar, sin tener que viajar, y cada día marcaba su diario de sueños con él.
He lived on a train, and he called it the Hurricane. He could travel without actually having to move, and every day he recorded his dreams while on the train.
Quiso tener, sin tener que pagar, comió y bebió, siempre de un manantial, tan dulce como los besos, de esos que soñaba él.
He wanted to have everything without having to pay for anything. He ate and drank from a spring that was as sweet as the kisses he dreamt of.
Con cien cañones de plata vivió de maravilla, murió en el barro de la sociedad. Tenía en el bolsillo una colilla, que la vida es un cigarro que no se debe apagar.
He lived a wonderful life with all the riches in the world, but died in the mud of society. He had a cigarette butt in his pocket as a reminder that life is a flame that should never go out.
No hay sitio aquí, para ese tal Huracán, que deja rastros de asfalto y de barras de bar, y de colegas de brega, que galopaban con él.
There is no place here for that Hurricane who leaves traces of asphalt, bars, and comrades who rode with him in struggles.
Tuvo su reina, sus noches, sus juegos de amar. Y en el reflejo de un coche, lo hacía real. Que olía como el dolor, decía la gente de él. Como el dolor de las flores que duerme, con el Huracán.
He had his queen, his nights, and his love games. And in the reflection of a car, he made it all real. People said he smelled like pain, like the pain of the flowers that sleep with the Hurricane.
Contributed by Stella G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.