"Argentine Women" is a song cycle composed by the Argentine composer Ariel Ramírez. It is based on Félix Luna lyrics about eight women who were part of the Argentine history and fighters for their freedom.
"Gringa* Chaqueña"
This poem portraits the colonizer woman, civilizer of El Chaco (hot and semi-arid lowland natural region in northern Argentina), the place where will be built the future country. "Gringa Chaqueña" is an important myth for the national foundation of Argentina.
"Gringa chaqueña"
(Letra: Félix Luna - Música: Ariel Ramírez) Ahora eres la cuna de la paz y del trabajo cuando yo te habité eras puros tacuruses monte sin flor indiada y toldería campos de espinas amargura, cruces. Sangre de mi gente tu horizonte maduro gringos te abonaron con su piel y su sudor déjame decir lo que yo te di déjame que cuente de este Chaco que hice yo yo te trabajé hice de tu piel una sombra nueva yo te di algodón hijos te brindé rostros de cosecha chaco montaraz toba redomón fui mujer entera tu tierra vacante fue una cuna grande áspera y materna tu esterilidad yo la fecundé cada luna nueva y dándote vida me he sentido yo bien gringa y también chaqueña. |
"Gringa Chaqueña"
Translation Now you The Cradle of Peace And the work When I dwell You were just tacuruses Hill without flowers Indiada and tolderia Fields of thorns Bitterness, crosses. Blood of my people Gringos fertilized Your ripe horizon With their skin and sweat Let me say What I gave you Let me tell you About this Chaco that I made myself I worked on you I made your skin A new shade I gave you cotton Children I provided Faces of harvest Wild Chaco Toba redomón I was a whole woman Your vacant land It was a big crib Rough and maternal Your sterility I fertilized Each new moon And giving you life I felt myself very Gringa and also Chaco. |
(*) Gringo is often defined as disparaging slang for a foreign person in Latin America.