Mercedes Sosa - Sólo Le Pido a Dios

Mercedes Sosa (1935-2009) was known as the "voice for the voiceless." With her deep alto voice, La Negra (as she was often called, because of her black hair and mestizo indigenous roots) popularized the socially conscious "nueva cancion" or new song movement in the 1960s. Sosa was a political activist and folk singer who gave new life to traditional Latin American music with her emotive takes on songs by greats like Violeta Parra. Her left political leanings led to her exile in 1979, when she was forced to flee an oppressive military regime. But Sosa's album Mercedes Sosa en Argentina, which came out in 1982, marked her return home. It highlights some of those signature songs like "Gracias A La Vida" (meaning "thank you to life") or "Sólo Le Pido a Dios" that became anthems for generations to come. The double album became an instant best-seller and marked another important step in the music of Argentina and Latin America, in that it incorporated more modern sounds, like rock and roll and international pop, with the folk sounds of the past. Sosa was also a champion of young artists and a constant innovator. This album and her music in general continues to be a staple of any Latino household. --Christina Cala (NPR Staff)

Felix Contreras of NPR Tells the Story of Mercedes Sosa's Life and Career

Lyrics

Solo le pido a Dios
Que el dolor no me sea indiferente
Que la reseca muerte no me encuentre
Vaca y sola sin haber hecho lo suficiente.

Solo le pido a Dios
Que lo injusto no me sea indiferente
Que no me abofeteen la otra mejilla
Despus que una garra me arae la suerte.

Solo le pido a Dios
Que la guerra no me sea indiferente
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.

Solo le pido a Dios
Que el engao no me sea indiferente
Si un traidor puede ms que unos cuantos
Que esos cuantos no lo olviden fcilmente.

Solo le pido a Dios
Que el futuro no me sea indiferente
Desgraciado es el que tiene que marchar
Para vivir una cultura diferente

Solo le pido a Dios
Que la guerra no me sea indiferente
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.

Translation by ​León Gieco

I only ask God
to not be detached from pain,
that the dried-up death don't find me
alone and empty, without having done enough.
 
I only ask God
to not be detached from injustice,
that I don't want to be slapped on the other cheek,
because those teeth already ripped out the luck from me.
 
I only ask God
to not be detached from war,
It's a giant monster and it strikes hard
all the poorly innocence of people.
 
I only ask God
to not be detached from delusion,
If a traitor can do more than a few,
may those few not be easily forgotten.
 
I only ask God
to not be detached from future,
hopeless is the one who has to depart
and live into a different culture.
 
I only ask God
to not be detached from war,
It's a giant monster and it strikes hard
al the poorly innocence of people.