"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.
"Manuela la tucumana"
Composed in honor of Manuela Pedraza (from Tucuman, small region located in the northwest of the country), heroine of the Creole resistance during the First English Invasion in 1806. The song glorifies the struggle of women and reveals a story that emerged in Buenos Aires during the reconquest of the city. That night when the wicks burnt and the English killed the inhabitants, women fought using pots of boiling oil and hot water to attack the enemy, finally winning the fight. One of the "female" noted for her courage, Manuela the Tucuman. When the fighting had reached its culmination in the Plaza Mayor, her husband fell pierced by a bullet, then she took his gun and killed the Englishman who had shot him.
"Manuela la tucumana"
(Letra: Félix Luna - Música: Ariel Ramírez) No duerme Buenos Aires las mechas arden, las mechas arden. Cuarenta mil valientes sólo un cobarde, sólo un cobarde. Con un fusil de chispas y muchas ganas, y muchas ganas. Peleó doña Manuela la tucumana, la tucumana. Este triunfo ganaron nuestras mujeres, nuestras mujeres. Las hembras han peleado como varones, como varones. Las ollas en sus manos fueron cañones, fueron cañones. Malaya los que vengan como enemigos, como enemigos. Habremos de correrlos como a estos gringos, como a estos gringos. Este triunfo ganaron nuestras mujeres, nuestras mujeres. |
"Manuela the Tucuman"
Translation No sleep Buenos Aires Wicks burn, Wicks burn. Forty thousand brave Only a coward, Only a coward. With a spark rifle And eager, And eager. Doña Manuela fought The Tucuman, The Tucuman. This victory won Our women, Our women. Females have fought Like men, Like men. The pots in their hands Were canons, Were canons. Damned comers As enemies, As enemies. We will have to throw them out As these gringos, As these gringos. This victory won Our women, Our women. |