Uno de Abajo

Soledad Bravo

SOLEDAD BRAVO - UNO DE ABAJO [VENEZUELA, 1972]

“No sea que algo se me pierda, cuando la vida me corten.
En el momento que muera, quiero mis cosas en orden.”

Here we have a great folk song performed by Venezuela’s Soledad Bravo. It was written by a Colombian named Kemel George, about whom I haven’t found any information other than a small picture of the Simon Bolivar Brigade that joined the fight against the Contras in Nicaragua, a photo in which his name is dubiously captioned (note: not the picture here).

The title, which translates directly as “One from Below,” refers to the lower classes, los de abajo, and sheds light on how poor working people are often the cannon fodder in wars which they often don’t understand nor have a stake in. The figure here knows that his* fate is sealed and that he will likely not survive the conflict, asking his brother to take care of his affairs so that nothing is left unresolved.

Musically, this is not typically Venezuelan nor Colombian and uses no culturally significant instruments. We’ll hear guitar, a bass, and violins, but no percussion until the last 20-or-so seconds, which seem to give the listener a feel of marching to battle considering that it enters right as the first verse is repeated.

It’s a very pretty song, but also very melancholic. Soledad Bravo has one of the best voices, if not the best, in Latin America’s revolutionary folk tradition, well known for her power and tremolo, if not as much for her range. I hope you like it, and let me know if you have any questions or comments!

SPANISH:

Hermano, voy a la guerra, me llevan muy obligado.
Las cosas que dejé abiertas, recójalas con cuidado.

No sea que algo se me pierda, cuando la vida me corten.
En el momento que muera, quiero mis cosas en orden.

No les doy explicaciones, son cosas muy complicadas.
Me han hablado de la patria, y de eso no comprendo nada.

Comprendo que soy muy pobre, que no gano para el sustento.
Comprendo que hoy estoy vivo, y que mañana estoy muerto.

Le dice a mi vieja Antonia que no pude despedirme,
que olvide la ceremonia de darme un beso antes de irme.

Pues voy en primera fila, que soy el mas ignorante.
Y el jefe quedo en su casa para reclutar los que falten.

Hermano, voy a la guerra, me llevan muy obligado.
Las cosas que dejé abiertas, recójalas con cuidado.

ENGLISH:

Brother, I’m off to the war, they’re making me go.
The things I left unfinished, handle them with care.

I don’t want anything lost when my life is cut short.
At the time I die, I want my affairs in order.

I won’t give you explanations, these are very complex things.
They’ve spoken to me about the homeland, but I don’t understand it at all.

I understand that I am very poor, that I don’t make enough to live.
I understand that today I’m alive, and that tomorrow I’m dead.

Tell my mother Antonia that I couldn’t say goodbye,
that she forget the ceremony of giving me a kiss before I leave.

I’m going to the front lines, because I’m the most uneducated.
The chief stayed back home to recruit those who are missing.

Brother, I’m off to the war, they’re making me go.
The things I left unfinished, handle them with care.

*As in many Spanish-language songs written by men and sung by women, the original gender of the lyrics is retained, which can be confusing for those unfamiliar with the trend. Hence, my reference to “his” despite a female singer.

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