Gracias a la vida / Thanks to life

Music and lyrics: Violeta Parra
Arranger; Daniel Emden

The most emblematic song of Violeta Parra, included in her album “Las últimas composiciones de Violeta Parra”, the last compositions of Violeta Parra.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It gave me two stars that when I open them
I perfectly distinguish the black from the white
And in the sky above, her starry background
And in the multitudes the man I love.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It gave me the ear that in all of its width
Records night and day crickets and canaries
Hammers, turbines, barks and rain,
And the tender voice of my beloved one.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It gave me the sound and the alphabet
With it the words I think and declare
Mother, friend, brother, and the light brightening
The route of the soul of the one I love.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It gave me the march of my tired feet
With them I have traversed cities and puddles
Beaches and deserts, mountains and plains
And your house, your street and your patio.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It gave me a heart that shakes it frame
When I see the fruit of the human brain
When I see the good so far from the bad,
When I see the depth of your light eyes.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
It has given me the laugh and it has given me the crying
As such I distinguish happiness from sorrow
The two materials that form my chanting
And your chanting which is the same chant
And everyone's chant, which is my own chant.

Thanks to life that has given me so much.