Words and Music:  Los Jaivas

Arranged:  Justo Diaz

During the late sixties in Chile a band whose name meant "little crabs" was producing a music that combined elements of improvisation, symphonic rock and traditional Andean folk music. Like other thoughtful and progressive artists they were forced to flee into exile by the U.S backed military coup in 1973. Decades later this song's message of unity struck a responsive chord with the choir and was arranged for us by Justo Diaz. We're grateful that Justo's arrangement owes more to his extensive knowledge of folk music than to any of the other styles - we might have had difficulty sounding psychedelic!

Hace mucho tiempo que yo vivo preguntándome
Para qué la tierra es tan redonda y una sola no más
¿Si vivimos todos separados para qué son el cielo y el mar?
¿Para qué es el sol que nos alumbra si no nos queremos ni mirar?

Tantas penas que nos van llevando a todos al final
¿Cuántas noches cada noche de ternura tendremos que dar?
¿Para qué vivir tan separados si la tierra nos quiere juntar?
Si este mundo es uno y para todos, todos juntos vamos a vivir

For a long time I've been wondering
Why the Earth is so round and unique
If we all live separately then what are the sea and sky for?
Why have the sun to illuminate us if we don't love or even look at each other?

We've all borne so much pain at last
How many nights, each night of tenderness, will we have to give?
Why live so separately if the Earth wants us to join together?
If this world is one and for everyone, then we're all going to live together