by Violeta Parra
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me dio dos luceros que cuando los abro
Perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco
Y en el alto cielo su fondo estrellado
Y en las multitudes el hombre que yo amo
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el oído que en todo su ancho
Cada noche y días
Grillos y canarios, martillos, turbinas
Ladridos, chubascos
Y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario
Con él las palabras que pienso y declaro
Madre, amigo, hermano y luz alumbrando
La ruta del alma del que estoy amando
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados
Con ellos anduve ciudades y charcos
Playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos
Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me dio el corazón que agita su marco
Cuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano
Cuando miro el bueno tan lejos del malo
Cuando miro el fondo de tus ojos claros
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto
Así yo distingo dicha de quebranto
Los dos materiales que forman mi canto
Y el canto de ustedes que es el mismo canto
Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto
Gracias a la vida
I thank life which has given me so much
It gave me two luminaries which when I open
Let me distinguish perfectly black from white
And on the tall sky its starry backdrop
And within the crowds the man whom I love
I thank life which has given me so much
It has given me hearing that in its broadness
Records day and night
Crickets and canaries, hammers, turbines
Barking, rain showers
And the very tender voice of my dearly beloved
I thank life which has given me so much
It has given me sound and the alphabet
And with it the words I think and proclaim
Mother, friend, brother and light brightening up
The soul path of whom I’m loving
I thank life which has given me so much
It has given me the march of my tired feet
With which I’ve walked on cities and puddles
Seashores and desert, mountains and plains
And your home, your street and your courtyard
I thank life which has given me so much
It gave me the heart that stirs its frame
When I watch the fruit of the human brain
When I see good men so far from evil men
When I look into the depths of your clear eyes
I thank life which has given me so much
It has given me laughter and has given me weeping
Thus I can tell apart joy from sorrow
The two elements that shape my song
And your song which is the same song
And everyone’s song which is my own song
I thank life