Victor Jara - Arlo Guthrie

Victor Jara of Chile

Lived like a shooting star

He fought for the people of Chile

With his songs and his guitar

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Victor Jara was a peasant

Who worked from a few years old

He sat upon his father’s plow

And watched the earth unfold

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Now when the neighbors had a wedding

Or one of their children died

His mother sang all night for them

With Victor by her side

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

He grew up to be a fighter

Against the people’s wrongs

He listened to their grief and joy

And turned them into songs

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

He sang about the copper miners

And those who worked the land

He sang about the factory workers

And they knew he was their man

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

He campaigned for Allende

Working night and day

He sang, «take hold of your brother’s hand

The future begins today»

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Then the generals seized Chile

They arrested Victor then

They caged him in a stadium

With five thousand frightened men

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Victor stood in the stadium

His voice was brave and strong

And he sang for his fellow prisoners

'Til the guards cut short his song

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

They broke the bones in both his hands

They beat him on the head

They tore him with electric shocks

And then they shot him dead

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Victor Jara of Chile

Lived like a shooting star

And he fought for the people of Chile

With his songs and his guitar

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Víctor Jara de Chile

Vivió como una estrella fugaz

Luchó por el pueblo de Chile

Con sus canciones y su guitarra

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Víctor Jara era un campesino

Que trabajó desde algunos años

Se sentó en el arado de su padre

Y vi la tierra desplegarse

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Ahora cuando los vecinos tenían una boda

O uno de sus hijos murió

Su madre cantó toda la noche para ellos.

Con Víctor a su lado

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Creció para ser un luchador

Contra los males del pueblo

Él escuchó su dolor y alegría

Y las convirtió en canciones

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Cantó sobre los mineros del cobre

Y los que labraban la tierra

Cantó sobre los trabajadores de la fábrica.

Y sabían que él era su hombre

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Hizo campaña por Allende

Trabajando noche y dia

Cantó, «toma la mano de tu hermano

El futuro comienza hoy»

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Entonces los generales se apoderaron de Chile

Entonces arrestaron a Víctor

Lo enjaularon en un estadio

Con cinco mil hombres asustados

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Víctor se paró en el estadio

Su voz era valiente y fuerte.

Y cantó para sus compañeros de prisión

Hasta que los guardias acortaron su canción

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Le rompieron los huesos de ambas manos

Lo golpearon en la cabeza

Lo desgarraron con descargas eléctricas

Y luego lo mataron a tiros

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Víctor Jara de Chile

Vivió como una estrella fugaz

Y luchó por el pueblo de Chile

Con sus canciones y su guitarra

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes

Sus manos eran suaves, sus manos eran fuertes