Can you hear the drums Fernando
I remember long ago another starry night like this
In the firelight Fernando
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
I could hear the distant drums and sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar
They were closer now Fernando
Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally
I was so afraid Fernando
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And I'm not ashamed to say the roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though we never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Now we're old and grey Fernando
Since many years I haven't seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums Fernando
Do you still recall the fateful night we crossed the Rio Grande
I can see it in your eyes how proud you were to fight for freedom in this land
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though we never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though we never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Yes, if I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
I remember long ago another starry night like this
In the firelight Fernando
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
I could hear the distant drums and sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar
Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally
I was so afraid Fernando
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And I'm not ashamed to say the roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though we never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Since many years I haven't seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums Fernando
Do you still recall the fateful night we crossed the Rio Grande
I can see it in your eyes how proud you were to fight for freedom in this land
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though we never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though we never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
I would, my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Song Info
Copyright
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/atv Music Publishing Llc
Writer
Stig Erik Leopold Anderson, Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K Ulvaeus
Duration
4:12
Producer
Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Release date
Mar 27, 1976
Sentiment
Positive
Submitted by
demau Senae On Apr 20, 2001
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Thank you for saying about this being set during the Mexican revolution...so obvious yet people seem not to get this.
I think it's during the 1910 revolution because it's obvious that Fernando and co. lost.
And although at the imediate end of said revolution the people thought they had one...it was soon aparent that they had lost and that another tyrant had taken over.
Hello everyone... although Wikipedia's credibility can always be called to question, check out the following link to the song's history...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_%28song%29
I tend to think it alludes to the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
Wow, mlopes... I didn't know that one... By reading the lyrics and their context, I always assumed it was about the Mexican Revolution of 1910, particularly with the Rio Grande reference and the revolutionary tone of the song.
This is a very well written and moving song which I understand is supposed to be about the Spanish civil war from the point of view of the losing side. I don't get the reference to 'crossing the Rio Grande' unless the capitalisation was not in the original lyric and it simply refers to a large river.
@VardonVoo not about the Spanish Civil War but about two soldiers reminiscence on the war between Texas and Mexico, which explains the Rio Grande reference too.
@VardonVoo not about the Spanish Civil War but about two soldiers reminiscence on the war between Texas and Mexico, which explains the Rio Grande reference too.
that aint good news at all ///!!!
The Term Rio Grande refers to the river that marks the U.S.-Mexico border (Americans call it the Rio Grande, Mexicans Rio Bravo)... The song is not about the Spanish Civil War, but rather about the Mexican Revolution that took place in the ealy 1900's.
By the time Fernando was written, and altered by Bjorn for greater dramatic impact, the American "western" had become so detached from factual history and sense, in the interest of story telling and greater emotion, that really it doesn\'t much matter what historical events the song refers to anymore than what historical truths might be involved in a TV western. \n\nIn short, both US TV Westerns and Fernando are just spinning a web of emotions without regard to history.
I'm not an ABBA fan, but since I know what this song is about, I'm posting it here! This song is about a guy named Fernando who were friends with the band elements, they knew him in Portimão, Algarve in Portugal. Some years after they met Fernando died, and they dedicated this song to him.
Curiously enough the Rio Grande is located in the border between the USA & Mexico, obviously the reference is to the early 1900's Mexican Revolution
Curiously enough the Rio Grande is located in the border between the USA & Mexico, obviously the reference is to the early 1900's Mexican Revolution
I didnt know exactly what it was about it but someone I knew told me it was about a dead friend of theirs which i think is nice.
Im not a master in spanish but doesn't "Rio Grande" just mean "big river"? If that's the case then it doesn't have to hint Mexico. :o