La Memoria - The Memory - Leon Gieco English Cover

This is an English version of "La Memoria" by León Gieco. Much of the lyrics are based on Gieco's original, but I have "Canadianized" a lot of it, as some of what he is singing about would not translate well for a North American audience.

The Memory (words & music: León Gieco; translation: Paula E. Kirman)

The elderly think of the past
The illusions through the years lost
Promises that slipped away
Wars and counting all the lives cost

All of this kept in the memory
Dreams of life and history

Deceitful, complicit in crimes
Of genocides, all those who fell
The monsters at blame for it all
Committed forever to hell

All of this kept in the memory
Dreams of life and history

The memories are wide awake
Even to those who are sleeping
All the hurt slips away
Free like the wind

The disappeared in Argentina
Where children search for their names
Hunger and longing together
An evil legacy of shame

All of this nailed to the memory
Puncturing life and history

As the troops use billions of dollars
Needed by schools, arts, and health
Were told theyre fighting for freedom
Not oil, gold, riches, or wealth

All of this nailed to the memory
Puncturing life and history

The memorys pierced till it bleeds
Into rivers through cities
Between shorelines and reeds
Free like the wind



Prejudice survives generations
Synagogues painted with hate
Stealing land from First Nations
Justice observes but is late

All of this hides in the memory
A refuge of life and history

Declared a security threat
With no charge or trial detained
Human rights are left behind
In prisons with torture and chains

All of this hides in the memory
A refuge of life and history

The memory bursts till it spreads
In the places its banished
Where they do not let it live
Free like the wind

Poisoning our own water
Selling our own sovereignty
All for some dirty oil
Needed by the military

All of this loaded in the memory
Arming the life and history

America whom we follow
Propping up puppet regimes
Making casualties of civilians
Losing our souls in their screams

All of this loaded in the memory
Arming the life and history

The memory aims for the kill
In the cities that keep it
From taking flight, against its will
Free like the wind
Free like the wind

Category:

Music

Tags:

• leon
• gieco
• memoria
• memory
• song
• english
• spanish
• argentina
• canada

[flutefan]

I am overwhelmed with joy that my Canadian English version of this incredible song is enjoyed so much by people in Argentina. I am working on a special surprise to say thank you.

[flutefan]

Thank you all very much for your positive comments!

[Mery2384]

When I saw you translated this song, I coudln't believe it. I'm from Argentine and I just couldn't imagine that it could be translated to English! I thought it would be at least ugly... Well, you totally surprised me. It's awesome!!! This song, when sung by León Gieco, gives me goosebumps, it makes me shiver. Your version did exactly the same. Beautiful!

[flutefan]

Thank you so much. It was not easy to translate, and I thought the best way to do the song justice was to write about Canada in the same way Gieco writes about Argentina.

[madeinmanchesterr]

this is nice but its hilarious that she's playing a dean flying v acoustic! hahahaha ROCK ON!!!

[flutefan]

I recorded it in my office before a meeting! I keep a guitar there to practise, and decided to take my video camera out and record it right there.

[marceallboys]

GENIAL !!!!!!

VERY NICE

[ayudar80]

Thanks a lot, I teach Spanish in High School and I am from Argentina. The students always ask me what music I listen to from Argentina and they cannot understand everything, this is great to show my friends and students here in the States. Thanks..

[thekaiserjoe]

geniallllllllll

[porelmismocamino]

coincido, EXCELENTE!!!

[diegoveintegenario]

excelente!! =D

[Eduarodi]

Congratulations. I'm an Argentinian, too, and I think your version is very faithful to the spirit of the original lyrics. And I like your voice, too. Thank you.

[mdqvicky]

Im from Argentina and i love this version!!

[damianltorres]

Hola me llamo Damian y soy de Argentina.

Me pone muy contento poder escuchar en otras lenguas el tema que cantas, para nosotros es un tema que marco una epoca siniestra de nuestro pais, donde los militares se apropiaron del poder e implantaron el terrorismo de estado,

Hoy en mi pais rememoramos esos siniestros dias y buscando el tema de Leon Gieco te encontre a ti,

Te felicito! Una excelente version.

[pippolp]

Hello!

I am from Argentina. A friend of mine posted this video in facebook and I must say that I am in shock, not only because this song always moves me but also hearing you singing it, recognizing its significance, it's very touching

Thank you so much!

[marcelitobrane]

Great! how did you get to know León Gieco?

[ReyBrujo636]

Se me eriza la piel....