1. You K… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists using the name You Know Who:
1. You Know Who (also written YouKnowWho) is a Danish dance act consisting of Christina J. Undhjem, Martin M. Larsson, and Lars H. Jensen.
They recorded some hits like "Guantanemera", "Good And Evil" and the album "You Know Who".
2. A punk rock trio based in the Southern California desert, fronted by Mike Pygmie, also of Mondo Generator.
Guantanamera
You Know Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De donde crece la palma
Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
El arroyo de la sierra
Me complace más que el mar
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
The above lyrics are from the famous song Guantanamera by You Know Who. This song is greatly rooted in Cuban folklore and is one of the most well-known songs of the island. The lyrics of the song speak about the persona being a sincere man from the place where the palm trees grow. He wishes to pour his heart and soul into his verses before his death, reflecting on the Cuban spirit and the love for the land.
The repetition of “Guantanamera” is an important part of the lyrics, capturing the essence of the song's soulful and optimistic tone. The chorus is a cheerful tribute to the guajira style of music, and it provides listeners with a glimpse of the folk music that is Cuba's pride.
Furthermore, the persona of the song mentions that he prefers the little stream in the mountain ranges over the vast sea. This line promotes appreciating the simpler things in life and finding beauty and comfort in nature. The song and its lyrics are a celebration of nature, the guajira way of life, and the Cuban spirit that has kept the island’s culture afloat for centuries.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo soy un hombre sincero
I am a truthful man
De donde crece la palma
From the land where palm trees grow
Yo soy un hombre sincero
I am a truthful man
De donde crece la palma
From the land where palm trees grow
Y antes de morirme quiero
And before I die, I want
Echar mis versos del alma
To share the verses from my soul
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
Guantanamera, peasant girl, Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
Guantanamera, peasant girl, Guantanamera
Con los pobres de la tierra
With the poor people of the land
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
I want to share my fate
Con los pobres de la tierra
With the poor people of the land
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
I want to share my fate
El arroyo de la sierra
The mountain stream
Me complace más que el mar
Pleases me more than the sea
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, peasant girl, Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera
Guantanamera, peasant girl, Guantanamera
Writer(s): JULIAN ORBON, PETE SEEGER, J. FERNANDEZ DIAZ, JOSE MARTI
Contributed by Colin F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.