The Wikipedia article and the definition that Nava cited support something I had heard years ago: “Guajiro” is Cuban for “peasant, rube, hillbilly” (feminine guajira) and is also (in the feminine) the term used for a particular style of “Cuban country/folk music” – analogies are pretty obvious. The “guajira guantanamera” of the song is a peasant girl from Guantanamo province – but the song itself is a “guajira” musically. Something like going to a bar/tavern with both a kitchen and a dance floor, and alternating between dancing and eating salsa.
One ton of mierde
Juaquin ate one ton of mierde
One tone of mierde…
(‘ton’, not ‘tone’)
This is the only verse I know. Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t find it anywhere on the 'net for verification. I imagined mi abuela just made it up so that she could twist it.
Not necessarily, I know a lot of verses for Christmas carols that you’d never find on the 'net. One of the things about folk songs is that, unless someone has recorded a version that somehow becomes “the” version, there’s as many variants as people singing them.
OK, I’ll call you on this one: what did you do? I suppose either or both you and your audience actually knew and understood the lyrics?
Me, I enjoy the melody but had no idea what they’re saying until I read the Wikipedia article cited on this thread a few minutes ago.
The best I would have been able to come up with would have been (a) to mime the concept of a very large tomato, then (b) try to mime the image of a mariachi band to convey Hispanic-ness. Not really 100% contextually accurate but hopefully enough to get the point across.
This is it, really, but reverence for Marti long predates the Batista regime, Jose Marti was both a renowned poet and writer and a martyr to Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain, being killed in battle in 1895. Guantanamera is revered because its words are taken from one of Marti’s poems.
Imagine, say, that America the Beautiful had been composed by George Washington or Abraham Lincoln and you may have a better idea of the significance of this song in Cuban culture. It is honored by both pro-Castro and anti-Castro Cubans, who both regard it as their anthem.
Except that America the Beautiful always has the same lyrics:
I’ve been to many parties where people pick up a guitar and improvise funny lyrics to both songs, much to the general amusement. I’m trying to think of an equilvalent song in the U.S., with no luck.
Wow! This thread turned out to be heavy laden with cultural riches and history. This is a sterling example of what the Straight Dope Message Board is all about. Thank you, all. [Nott tips his old fedora.]