Interpretation
"Gracias a la vida" is a Spanish song by
Violeta Parra that speaks of gratitude and appreciation for life. The lyrics of the song are a kind of thanksgiving speech to life, in which Violeta Parra lists the things that life has given her and for which she is grateful.
The first part of the song is about the gifts that life has given her. She thanks life for the two "lights" in her eyes, which allow her to distinguish between black and white. She also mentions the stars in the sky and the people she loves.
In the second part of the song, she thanks life for the hearing that allows her to hear the sounds of the world - from crickets and canaries to hammers and storms. She also mentions the soft voice of her beloved.
In the third part of the song, she speaks of the language and words that life has given her. She names her family - father, friend, brother - and the light that illuminates the path to her beloved.
In the fourth part of the song, she thanks life for her feet, which allow her to walk through cities and puddles, beaches and deserts, mountains and plains. She also mentions her beloved's home.
In the fifth part of the song, she speaks of her heart, which is moved when she contemplates the fruits of the human spirit and sees the differences between good and evil. She also mentions her beloved's clear gaze.
In the sixth part of the song, she thanks life for the laughter and tears that she can distinguish. She speaks of happiness and sadness as the two materials from which her song is made, as well as the song of other people.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Gracias a la vida" by Violeta Parra express her deep gratitude for life and the different gifts it has given her. She recognizes that there is both joy and sorrow, and that her song is connected to the song of other people. It is an ode to life and the beauty it offers.