Quimey Neuquén
Marcelo
Berbel and Napoleón Milton Aguilar (http://letras.com/hermanos-berbel/1871599/)
(Translation
Pehr Jansson with a lot of help from Google Translate and Wikipedia)
(Performed
by José Larralde and used on Breaking Bad (S05E10) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJGL1hdl8Cw)
Sun of Cerro Arenales[i]
Irrigated with brave Sayhueque’s[ii]
blood.
The tears are coming back for
your runaway Pehuenche[iii]
colt.
The night sky waves.
He hears the serenade of the wind.
The axe-bearers[iv] catch the moon
Waters raging
They want to return
Waters raging
They want to return
Upstream of the lighted edge[vii]
Quimey Neuquen
The sun is being spent
On stone slabs and turbid currents.
He kissed the Indian shadow,
That is returning to crest
In a green dream.
Already a mellow silence,
For your wild belly of your fences.
(a side-by-side translation at https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6Lki1ODVUY-VW1mOFY4ZFpBQm8/view?usp=sharing)
|
[i]
Cerro Arenales is a volcano in southern Chile. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerro_Arenales
[ii]
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayhueque
in an alternative version of Quimey Neuquen (http://www.albumcancionyletra.com/corregir_quimey-neuquen_de_hermanos-berbel_letra__97449.aspx)
“Ceihuanquei” is written as Sayhueque.
Probably just an alternative spelling.
[iii]
Pehuenche is an indigenous subgroup of the Mapuche people (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pehuenche_people)
[iv]
Tucos is one name for Tuco-tuco (https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctenomys). However, I think it is a reference to Toqui –
the axe-bearer appointed to lead the Mapuche in time of war. Perhaps Quimey
Neuquén was an axe-bearer.
[v]
Aruacana is an alternative name for the Mapuche people of south-central Chile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapuche)
[vi]
A cimba is a small boat made from a tree trunk (https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimba)
[vii]
In an alternative version this is “canto aprendido” which would mean “learned
song”. However, “canto” can also mean
edge and in the context of the river (Río) “edge” may make more sense.
[viii]
Neuquen is a province and city in Agentina.
The largest city in Patagonia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuquén
[ix]
Quimey is a male name originating in Araucano (http://www.misabueso.com/nombres/nombre_quimey.html)
