Guantanamera (Live) - Pete Seeger

José Martí was born in 1853

When he was 17 years old

He was active in the Cuban liberation movement

He was exiled by the Spanish government

He spent most of his life in exile

Including 12 years in New York City

He wrote 70 books poetry novels polemics

He was one of the greatest writers

In the Spanish language

At the age of 42 he went back to Cuba

This is one of his last poems

As he was killed within a year in an aborted uprising

After he died people put it to a popular tune

Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera

Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera

Yo soy un hombre sincero

De donde crecen las palmas

Yo soy un hombre sincero

De donde crecen las palmas

Y antes de morir me quiero

Echar mis versos del alma

Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera

Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera

Mi verso es de un verde claro

Y de un carmín encendido

Mi verso es de un verde claro

Y de un carmín encendido

Mi verso es un ciervo herido

Que busca en el monte amparo

Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera

Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera

The words mean I am a truthful

Man from the land of the palm trees

And before dying I want to

Share these poems of my soul

My poems are soft green

My poems are also flaming crimson

My poems are like a wounded fawn

Seeking refuge in the forest

The last verse says 'con los pobres de la tierra'

With the poor people of this earth

I want to share my fate

The streams of the mountains

Please me more than the sea

Con los pobres de la tierra

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

Once more

Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera

Guantanamera Guajira Guantanamera