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Gracias a La Vida Lyrics

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 día, 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 el 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 al bueno tan lejos del malo,
Cuando miro al 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 mi mismo canto,
Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto.
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.
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Cover art for Gracias a La Vida lyrics by Joan Baez

i read in an old folk song book that this song is of protest, saying thank you as an irony. for example, thank you for giving me eyes to allow me to see horrible things. ive asked around but noone seems to think that at all. does anyone know about it being cynical or ironic or protest? thanks.

While it's certainly possible that it's about protest, none of the words reflect that attitude. The only version that I'm familiar with was performed by Mercedes Sosa, a popular artist from Argentina; her rendition is very beautiful, and the way she sings it does not convey any sense of protest. Quite the opposite, in fact. The original songwriter, according to Wikipedia, was Violeta Parra from Chile. She committed suicide due to a breakup with a Gilbert Favre. Given that, it's possible that her perspective was one of irony. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful song if...

the rhythm is dancing, and I see no irony in many thanks to life for "so tender voice of my beloved" ("la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado")

I can see it being sung sarcastically, having read the lyrics, (since I learned it as a little girl who couldn't speak Spanish,) but I don't think it has to be. Personally, I would interpret with both ironic and sincere parts. "thank you for allowing me to see these injustices" may be ironic, while "thank you for allowing me to see/hear/go to the man I love" is sincere. The entire song thanks life for everything, for laughter and tears ("la risa y el llanto") with which she makes her song ("Los dos materiales que forman mi canto"). I think it's...

 
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