Verse 1
D A D
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
A
Me dio dos luceros, que cuando los abro
D
Perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco
A
Y en el alto cielo, su fondo estrellado
D
Y en las multitudes, el hombre que yo amo
Verse 2
D A D
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
A
Me ha dado el oído, que en todo su ancho
D
Graba noche y días, grillos y canarios
A
Martillos, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos
D
Y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado
Verse 3
D A D
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
A
Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario
D
Con él, las palabras que pienso y declaro
A
Madre, amigo, hermano, y luz alumbrando
D
La ruta del alma del que estoy amando
Verse 4
D A D
Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto
A
Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados
D
Con ellos, anduve ciudades y charcos
A
Playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos
D
Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio
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 días, 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
Traducción literaria al inglés — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It gave me two bright stars, that when I open them
I perfectly distinguish black from white
And in the high sky, its starry backdrop
And in the crowds, the man I love
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It has given me hearing, that in all its breadth
Records night and day, crickets and canaries
Hammers, turbines, barks, downpours
And the tender voice of my beloved
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It has given me sound and the alphabet
With it, the words I think and declare
Mother, friend, brother, and light illuminating
The path of the soul of the one I love
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It has given me the walk of my tired feet
With them, I walked through cities and puddles
Beaches and deserts, mountains and plains
And your house, your street, and your yard
Traducción literaria al italiano — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
Grazie alla vita, che mi ha dato tanto
Mi ha dato due stelle, che quando le apro
Distinguo perfettamente il nero dal bianco
E nel cielo alto, il suo sfondo stellato
E tra le folle, l'uomo che amo
Grazie alla vita, che mi ha dato tanto
Mi ha dato l'udito, che in tutta la sua ampiezza
Registra notte e giorno, grilli e canarini
Martelli, turbine, latrati, acquazzoni
E la voce così tenera del mio amato
Grazie alla vita, che mi ha dato tanto
Mi ha dato il suono e l'alfabeto
Con esso, le parole che penso e dichiaro
Madre, amico, fratello, e luce che illumina
Il cammino dell'anima di chi amo
Grazie alla vita, che mi ha dato tanto
Mi ha dato il cammino dei miei piedi stanchi
Con loro, ho attraversato città e pozzanghere
Spiagge e deserti, montagne e pianure
E la tua casa, la tua strada e il tuo cortile
Traducción literaria al portugués — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
Obrigado à vida, que me deu tanto
Me deu dois olhos, que quando os abro
Distingo perfeitamente o negro do branco
E no céu alto, seu fundo estrelado
E nas multidões, o homem que eu amo
Obrigado à vida, que me deu tanto
Me deu o ouvido, que em toda sua amplitude
Grava noites e dias, grilos e canários
Martelos, turbinas, latidos, chuvas
E a voz tão terna do meu bem amado
Obrigado à vida, que me deu tanto
Me deu o som e o alfabeto
Com ele, as palavras que penso e declaro
Mãe, amigo, irmão, e luz iluminando
A rota da alma de quem estou amando
Obrigado à vida, que me deu tanto
Me deu o caminhar dos meus pés cansados
Com eles, andei cidades e poças
Praias e desertos, montanhas e planícies
E a sua casa, sua rua e seu quintal
The story behind
"Gracias a la vida" is an emblematic song by Violeta Parra, a prominent figure of the Nueva Canción Chilena movement. This folk-inspired piece was composed and performed by Parra during her stay in La Paz, Bolivia, and is part of her album Las últimas composiciones (1966), the last she released before her death on February 5, 1967. The song has been recognized on numerous occasions as one of the most significant in the realm of Spanish-language music, being described as a «humanist anthem». Its impact has transcended through its profound humanity and universality, earning the appreciation of both critics and audiences. Violeta Parra wrote and performed this song in May 1966 while living in La Paz. The lyrics are dedicated to Gilbert Favre, with whom she maintained a romantic relationship. During their time together, they resided in a room at La Peña Naira, on Sagarnaga Street in La Paz. When their relationship ended and she returned to Chile, Parra received a charango from Ernesto Cavour, an instrument she learned to play self-taught and with which she recorded «Gracias a la vida» in Chile. This charango appears on the cover of her final album. The album Las últimas composiciones was prepared with the help of her children Isabel and Ángel, and Uruguayan musician Alberto Zapicán. This album is considered by some experts to be one of Parra's finest works, including songs such as «Run Run se fue pa'l Norte», «Maldigo del alto cielo», «Volver a los 17» and «El Albertío». It has been described as an «early epitaph», reflecting the intensity and contradictions of her life. Parra meticulously planned this record as her final offering, achieving a dramatic blend of emotions and creativity. «Gracias a la vida» opens the album and represents one of the greatest paradoxes of Parra: the author of a love song to life took her own life a year after writing it. Some critics have interpreted the lyrics and musical style as a reflection of a depressive state and a farewell, while others see in it an act of generosity from an exceptional soul. The song is characterized by charango and percussion accompaniment, with Violeta Parra's voice taking center stage. Throughout its seven stanzas, Parra gives thanks for the blessings of life: sight, hearing, language, movement, the heart, and finally, laughter and tears, which she considers the essence of her song. The stanzas, composed of five dodecasyllabic verses with assonant rhyme, begin with the phrase «Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto». The final stanza is unique, with six verses, and begins and ends with the song's main verse.