UPDATE - 19/02/2014: Venezuela Bids Adios to a Much Loved Folk Legend
Probably one of Simon Diaz' most famous songs, Caballo Viejo (Old Horse), was allegedly written by the singer to a young beauty queen. He might be an old horse, goes the song, but he still fancies his chances. It has the typical Llanos accompaniment of maracas, harp and cuatro (small, four stringed guitar). The video couldn't be slushier, but if you're into soft-focus and longing looks across a plate of steaming arepas, this one is for you. The Gipsy Kings called this song "Bamboleo" and had a huge hit with it. But Simon Diaz wrote it.
Caballo Viejo
Translated by Russell Maddicks
When love arrives like this, in this way
you don't even realise
The genipap tree comes to life again
The guamacho tree flowers
and the rope snaps
The horse is put out to pasture
because he is old and tired
but they don't realize
that a heart that is tied
when the reins are released
becomes a runaway horse
And if the old horse meets
a chestnut filly
his heart is pulverized
He ignores the bridle
and he ignores the bit
and false reins don't stop him
When love arrives like this, in this way
you are not to blame
love has no schedule
or a date on the calendar
when desires are joined
The horse is put out to pasture
and his days are numbered
he crosses the plains
with a hurried step
to meet his filly
who has poisoned him
The colt has time for time
but because he's too old
the old horse cannot
lose the flower he's given
because when this life is over
there are no more chances
Report: Simon Diaz to be honoured at Latin Grammy Awards
Click here for a video of "Angustia" by Simon Diaz remixed by Babylon Motorhome
23 comments:
I for one appreciate your effort in displaying another avenue to explore in the latino music culture
Thanks for that video. Do you know anywhere I can find a decent transcription of the lyrics in Spanish??? They all seem full of mistakes ...
Michael
Shanghai, China
Trancription with no mistakes. Any phrase that sound strange is because a slang kind of talk by cowboy men in Venezuela.
Sorry for my poor english.
CUANDO EL AMOR LLEGA ASI DE ESTA MANERA
UNO NO SE DA NI CUENTA
EL CARUTAL REVERDECE
EL GUAMACHITO FLORECE
Y LA SOGA SE REVIENTA
CABALLO LE DAN SABANA
PORQUE ESTA VIEJO Y CANSAO
PERO NO SE DAN DE CUENTA
QUE UN CORAZON AMARRAO
CUANDO LE SUELTAN LAS RIENDAS
ES CABALLO DESBOCAO
Y SI UNA POTRA ALAZANA
CABALLO VIEJO SE ENCUENTRA
EL PECHO SE LE DESGRANA
NO LE HACE CASO A FALSETA
Y NO LE OBEDECE A FRENO
NI LO PARAN FALSAS RIENDAS
CUANDO EL AMOR LLEGA ASI DE ESTA MANERA
UNO NO TIENE LA CULPA
QUERERSE NO TIENE HORARIO
NI FECHA EN EL CALENDARIO
CUANDO LAS GANAS SE JUNTAN
CABALLO LE DAN SABANA
Y TIENE EL TIEMPO CONTAO
Y SE VA POR LA SABANA
CON SU PASITO APURAO
A VERSE CON SU POTRANCA
QUE LO TIENE EMBARBASCAO
EL POTRO DA TIEMPO AL TIEMPO
PORQUE LE SOBRA LA EDAD
CABALLO VIEJO NO PUEDE
PERDER LA FLOR QUE LE DAN
PORQUE DESPUES DE ESTA VIDA
NO HAY OTRA OPORTUNIDAD.
Hello, It seems you know a lot of the music in Latin America.I saw the song "Caballo Viejo" on your site. I like the song "Caballo Viejo" a lot. I have a few questions about that song. Do you know from what year it is and who recorded it first? Some say it was written in the 60's some say in 1980.
I hope you can give me an answer.
Friendly greetings
Roel The Netherlands.
I think that "Caballo Viejo" was first sang by Simon Diaz. It must have been in the 60's because I was still a child when I first heard it. It is beautiful!
First recorded in 1980, from LP: Golpe y Pasaje Simón Díaz Caballo Viejo, Palacio (records label)
Recorded & Mixed by Nucho Bellomo at Audio Uno (Caracas)
Graphic Design: Miguel Jaimes
Vocals: Simón Díaz
Group: Conjunto Criollo de Candido Herrera
Guitar: Gabriel Rodríguez
Maracas: Mario Díaz
CD version for this album is not available.
oh man... you made me cry... really... i am far from my country and when i read about you wrote in your blog with such passion and listened the best song from Venezuela .... really you broke my heart... thank you man.... whenever you want to return to Venezuela you could stay in my home.... big hug for you
Russsell, this is awesome! I have published your translation on the A S Inner Circle network. I've sent you an invitation to join the network so that you can go the page where I posted it (with a link to your blog, of course!)
Muchísimas gracias
Amadou M. Sall
Good work, Russell. I'm a gringo in Oz who plays joropos on the arpa, always looking for good songs for my partner to sing. Tengo cuatro y maracas, of course!
tio simooonnnn! i still owe you that carne mechada recipe...
Thanks, amigo.
Is Simon Diaz the vocal performer for this video?
No my friend, the singer in this video is not Simón Díaz.
This is the original record of this tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4slLpbnoN5A
By the way, CD version of the original LP in now available.
I just bought a CD called Ambassador (? is the Spanish the same as the English) from a booth. I was drawn by the voice of Roberto Torres. I'm not into any kind of music so the phrase "I never heard of him before" seems rather silly. I hope it has the song Caballo Viejo. I also like the voice of Julio Jaramillo. Thank you.
Oh, Diego... man what a bad video of a great song.
Why are there no decent videos of Simon Diaz on Youtube?
Don't his family realize how important he is as an artist?
If decent videos of his performances and songs were available more people would know his music and more CDs would be sold around the world.
It's a win-win situation for Tio Simon so I can't see why his manager and promoters don't do something about this.
Typical shortsighted music business, sitting on all the archives for a profit that might never come.
What can I say? His manager is his daughter. Given that almost all his family is in showbusiness, like you said, shortsight prevailes. However, some efforts are being made to give him the place that he deserves, like some audio material and some quality videos. A good example of this is the launch of a CD with the original recording of "Golpe y Pasaje" and "Caballo Viejo" , and also a CD with a compilation of "tonadas"
Congratulations! Nice blog.
Good job Russell.
By the way the singer in the video is Teo Galindez, a famous Venezuelan singer, on of my favourite singer of Llanera Music.
The song describe the romantic situation when an old man (Caballo Viejo - Old Horse) meets with a young lady (Potra Alazana - Chesnut Filly).
I think any old man in the world dreams to live that situation. Wow! What experience!
The video is not so bad, but the man smokes too much and that is shocking for us who dislike and oppose smoking.
Thanks very much for everything you write about Venezuela.
Un fuerte abrazo,pana
Embarbascao probably translates better as perplexed or entangled.
http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/embarbascar
thank you for a wonderful transcription of such a beautiful song!
Simon Diaz "Tio Simon " one of many great exponents of Venezuelan music.
i've being living out of Venezuela for 21 years .
Thank you so much for bringing beautiful memories back to me!
Mi faborita
A beautiful song. This is a great song to play with the Venezuelan Cuatro. I am playing now and learning online with www.tucuatro.com and this is one of the songs they teach. Wonderful song for the Venezuelan Cuatro.
I just watched a video (youtube) with a song by the same author, Simon Diaz)called, "Tonada de Luna Llena". Wow! that one is another treasure! both, the music, the lyrics, are awesome!
Venezolanos, that Simon you have, is a genius!
Thank you very much for posting the translation. Beautiful song. Greetings from Austria!
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