Guantanamera

The song 'Guantanamera' is a Cuban classic that has been interpreted by many artists, but one of the most renowned versions is by Compay Segundo. The song's title and refrain, 'Guantanamera, Guajira Guantanamera,' refer to a female from Guantánamo, with 'guajira' meaning a rural, peasant girl. The lyrics express a deep connection to the land, sincerity, and a desire to live and die with honor.

The verses of 'Guantanamera' are derived from the poetry of Cuban national hero José Martí, whose work often celebrated Cuba's natural beauty and emphasized themes of freedom and social justice. The lines 'Yo soy un hombre sincero' and 'Y antes de morir yo quiero echar mis versos del alma' reflect the poet's commitment to honesty and his wish to share the verses of his soul before death. The song's insistence on dying 'de cara al sol' (facing the sun) symbolizes dying with dignity and transparency.

The song also touches on themes of solidarity and simplicity. The singer identifies with the poor ('Con los pobres de la tierra quiero yo mi suerte echar') and finds more pleasure in a mountain stream than in the sea, suggesting a preference for the modest and genuine over the vast and impersonal. The comparison with the leopard, who has a coat to protect him, is a metaphor for the value of friendship, which is deemed more significant than material possessions.