Lyrics and translation Violeta Parra feat. Javier Contreras & Sam Desmet - Gracias a la Vida

Gracias a la Vida

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 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, que me ha dado tanto

Thanks to Life

Thanks to life that has given me so much
She gave me two bright eyes and when I open them
I can perfectly tell black from white
And in the high heavens her starry background
And amidst the crowds of people the man I love.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
She has given me hearing that in all its breadth
Records day and night crickets and canaries
Hammers, turbines, barking, downpours
And the tender voice of my beloved.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
She has given me sound and the alphabet
With it the words that I think and declare
Mother, friend, brother, and guiding light
The path of the soul of the one I'm loving.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
She has given me the journey of my tired feet
With them I've walked through cities and puddles
Beaches and deserts, mountains and plains
And your home, your street, and your patio.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
She has given me a heart that beats in my chest
When I look at the fruit of the human brain
When I see the good so far from the bad
When I look into the depths of your clear eyes.

Thanks to life that has given me so much
She has given me laughter and she has given me tears
So I can tell joy from sorrow
The two materials that make up my song
And the song of you which is the same song
And the song of everyone which is my own song.

Thanks to life that has given me so much