Today should be a happy day. I usually try to be happy when someone who was a great man or a great woman dies. Because it's like the last stroke of the artist on his or her greatest masterpiece. Usually when I cry, I cry because I am happy for him or for her, because they were able be great untill their last day.
Today Mercedes Sosa died. In Buenos Aires, Argentina. I already cried for her today. I should be happy. In one song called "Sólo le pido a Dios" ("Just I ask God.."), she sings: <<Que la reseca muerte no me encuentre, vacío y solo sin haber hecho lo suficiente>> ("Just I ask God that pain is not indifferent to me, that dry death not find me empty and alone without having done enough"). What is enough in the life of a human being? I am more than convinced that Mercedes Sosa made much more than enough in her life full of sorrow, troubles, but also hope, resistance and joy.
Mercedes Sosa always gives me the strenght to go on anytime I heard her magnificent voice. There are some persons who were born just to give strenght to everybody else. Mercedes Sosa was one of these persons. A person who teaches in all of her songs to not give up, to carry on the struggle.
I heard her songs for the first time in 1995. Emilio, a close friend from Argentina let me know about her. I will forever thank him.
Yes, I think that enough is when you never lose the hope in your life. Yes, that can be enough. But it's not an easy thing.
Adios abuelita..
<<Sólo le pido a Dios
que el dolor no me sea indiferente,
que la reseca muerte no me encuentre
vacío y solo sin haber hecho lo suficiente.
Sólo le pido a Dios
que lo injusto no me sea indiferente,
que no me abofeteen la otra mejilla
después que una garra me arañó esta suerte.
Sólo le pido a Dios
que la guerra no me sea indiferente,
es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.
Sólo le pido a Dios
que el engaño no me sea indiferente,
si un traidor puede más que unos cuantos
que esos cuantos no lo olviden fácilmente.
Sólo le pido a Dios
que el futuro no me sea indiferente,
desahuciado está el que tiene que marchar
a vivir una cultura diferente>>, lyrics by Leòn Gieco.
que el dolor no me sea indiferente,
que la reseca muerte no me encuentre
vacío y solo sin haber hecho lo suficiente.
Sólo le pido a Dios
que lo injusto no me sea indiferente,
que no me abofeteen la otra mejilla
después que una garra me arañó esta suerte.
Sólo le pido a Dios
que la guerra no me sea indiferente,
es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.
Sólo le pido a Dios
que el engaño no me sea indiferente,
si un traidor puede más que unos cuantos
que esos cuantos no lo olviden fácilmente.
Sólo le pido a Dios
que el futuro no me sea indiferente,
desahuciado está el que tiene que marchar
a vivir una cultura diferente>>, lyrics by Leòn Gieco.
"Just I ask God
that pain is not indifferent to me,
that dry death not find me
empty and alone without having done enough.
Just I ask God
that injust is not indifferent to me,
I did not slap the other cheek
after a claw scratched me this way.
Just I ask God
that war can not be indifferent to me,
is a big monster and hits strongly
all the poor innocent people.
Just I ask God
that deception is not indifferent to me,
if a traitor can do more than a few
those few do not forget him easily.
Just I ask God
that the future can not be indifferent to me,
hopeless is the one who has to go
to live a different culture".
that pain is not indifferent to me,
that dry death not find me
empty and alone without having done enough.
Just I ask God
that injust is not indifferent to me,
I did not slap the other cheek
after a claw scratched me this way.
Just I ask God
that war can not be indifferent to me,
is a big monster and hits strongly
all the poor innocent people.
Just I ask God
that deception is not indifferent to me,
if a traitor can do more than a few
those few do not forget him easily.
Just I ask God
that the future can not be indifferent to me,
hopeless is the one who has to go
to live a different culture".
And for us, exiles, as she was during the dictatorship in Argentina, here's another song.
<<Cambia lo superficial
cambia también lo profundo
cambia el modo de pensar
cambia todo en este mundo
Cambia el clima con los años
cambia el pastor su rebaño
y así como todo cambia
que yo cambie no es extraño
cambia el más fino brillante
de mano en mano su brillo
cambia el nido el pajarillo
cambia el sentir un amante
Cambia el rumbo el caminante
aunque esto le cause daño
y así como todo cambia
que yo cambie no es extraño
Cambia, todo cambia
Cambia, todo cambia
Cambia, todo cambia
Cambia, todo cambia
cambia el sol en su carrera
cuando la noche subsiste
cambia la planta y se viste
de verde en la primavera
Cambia el pelaje la fiera
cambia el cabello el anciano
y así como todo cambia
que yo cambie no es extraño
Pero no cambia mi amor
por mas lejos que me encuentre
ni el recuerdo ni el dolor
de mi tierra y de mi gente
Y lo que cambió ayer
tendrá que cambiar mañana
así como cambio yo
en esta tierra lejana>>, lyrics by Julio Numhauser.
cambia también lo profundo
cambia el modo de pensar
cambia todo en este mundo
Cambia el clima con los años
cambia el pastor su rebaño
y así como todo cambia
que yo cambie no es extraño
cambia el más fino brillante
de mano en mano su brillo
cambia el nido el pajarillo
cambia el sentir un amante
Cambia el rumbo el caminante
aunque esto le cause daño
y así como todo cambia
que yo cambie no es extraño
Cambia, todo cambia
Cambia, todo cambia
Cambia, todo cambia
Cambia, todo cambia
cambia el sol en su carrera
cuando la noche subsiste
cambia la planta y se viste
de verde en la primavera
Cambia el pelaje la fiera
cambia el cabello el anciano
y así como todo cambia
que yo cambie no es extraño
Pero no cambia mi amor
por mas lejos que me encuentre
ni el recuerdo ni el dolor
de mi tierra y de mi gente
Y lo que cambió ayer
tendrá que cambiar mañana
así como cambio yo
en esta tierra lejana>>, lyrics by Julio Numhauser.
"Changes the superficial
also changes the depth
change mindsets
changes everything in this world
Climate changes over the years
changes the shepherd his flock
and just as everything changes
I change it is not surprising
changes the finest brilliant
from hand to hand its luster
changes the bird's nest
changes the feel a lover
Changes the direction the walker
although this will cause damage
and just as everything changes
I change it is not surprising
Changes, everything changes
Changes, everything changes
Changes, everything changes
Changes, everything changes
changes the sun in its career
when the night remains
changes the plant and dresses
spring green
Changes the beast's fur
changes the old hair
and just as everything changes
I change it is not surprising
But does not change my love
for more far I find
nor the memory nor the pain
from my homeland and my people
And what changed yesterday
have to change tomorrow
Just like I change
also changes the depth
change mindsets
changes everything in this world
Climate changes over the years
changes the shepherd his flock
and just as everything changes
I change it is not surprising
changes the finest brilliant
from hand to hand its luster
changes the bird's nest
changes the feel a lover
Changes the direction the walker
although this will cause damage
and just as everything changes
I change it is not surprising
Changes, everything changes
Changes, everything changes
Changes, everything changes
Changes, everything changes
changes the sun in its career
when the night remains
changes the plant and dresses
spring green
Changes the beast's fur
changes the old hair
and just as everything changes
I change it is not surprising
But does not change my love
for more far I find
nor the memory nor the pain
from my homeland and my people
And what changed yesterday
have to change tomorrow
Just like I change
in this distant land".
