Quimey Neuquen

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

In the black Araucana[v] dugout[vi].

Waters raging

They want to return

Waters raging

They want to return

Upstream of the lighted edge[vii]

Neuquén[viii] Quimey[ix]

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)