Gracias a la Vida

Violeta Parra

About Gracias a la Vida

"Gracias a la vida" (Spanish for "Thanks to life") is a song composed and first performed by Chilean musician Violeta Parra, one of the artists who set the basis for the movement known as Nueva Canción. Parra composed "Gracias a la vida" in La Paz in 1966, and the song was released on Las Últimas Composiciones, the last album Parra published before committing suicide in 1967. The song is one of Parra's most renowned and is performed throughout the world, and remains as one of the most covered Latin American songs in history. The song was inducted into the Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013. 


Year:
1997
4:38
90 
#2

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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
Graba noche y día, 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 al bueno tan lejos del malo
Cuando miro al 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 mi mismo canto
Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto

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Violeta Parra

Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval (4 October 1917 – 5 February 1967) was a Chilean composer, songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist. She set the basis for "Chilean' New Song", the Nueva canción chilena, a renewal and a reinvention of Chilean folk music which would absorb and extend its influence far beyond Chile. more »

1 fan

Written by: Violeta Parra Sandoval

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Music Genre
"Gracias a la Vida" falls into the 'Nueva Canción Chilena' genre, a movement in Chile that combines folk and popular music elements to typically communicate socio-political themes.
Creator
The song was written and performed by Violeta Parra, a remarkable Chilean singer-songwriter, ethnomusicologist, folklorist, and visual artist.
Release Year
"Gracias a la Vida" was recorded in 1966 and is considered one of the final pieces that Violeta Parra created before her death in 1967.
Inspirational Theme
The song is a poignant expression of gratitude to life despite its hardships, a sentiment that resonated with people around the world.
Influence
It became an iconic song in Latin America, covered by numerous artists across different languages and cultures. Some of the most famous musicians to have covered it include Joan Baez, Mercedes Sosa, and Michael Bublé.
International Recognition
In 1971, Joan Baez's English translation and rendition of the song became well-known globally, bringing even more recognition to the song.
Human Rights Symbol
The song has often been linked to human rights movements, due to its deep and meaningful lyrics, and it was commonly performed at protests during the dictatorship in Chile.
Legacy
"Gracias a la Vida" is considered one of the most important songs in Latin American music history. It was named by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest songs of all time.
Place in Violeta Parra's Life
It was part of Violeta Parra’s last album, "Las Últimas Composiciones", which was released posthumously.
UNESCO Honor
In 2019, the song was included in the Memory of the World Register by UNESCO, recognizing its cultural importance and heritage.

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    Gracias a la Vida

    9M
    56,721     2,462

    Album

    Chile Y Su Folklore

    • #8
      Gracias a la Vida

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