Why is Guantanamera A patriotic song For cuba?

Question

Why is Guantanamera A patriotic song For cuba?

Answer 1

It isn't

Answer 2

The lyrics of the Guantanamera song are based on the poetry of José Marti , Cuban freedom fighter , writer and poet who was killed in the independence war in 1895. José Marti is the national hero in Cuba. The song was made popular

in the Western world in the sixties by Pete Seeger.

The song has become an icon just like the Che Guevara picture. Why it is considered as a patriotic song is difficult to understand for non Cubans. Cubans claim that yumas (foreigners) will never completly understand the Cuban soul and the Latin spirit . To understand a little bit , join the Cubans and live with them , endure their daily problems and have nevertheless joy and fun and learn how proud they are about their beautiful island and culture.

Havanalover

http://www.havana-guide.com

Answer 3

A number of the verses are taken from poens by the Cuban national hero, Jose Marti.

Yo soy un hombre sincero

De donde crece la palma

Y antes de morirme quiero

Echar mis versos del alma

Answer 4

It's not so much patriotic as culturally iconic.  It's about a girl from Guantanamo, which is as far out in the country as you can get in Cuba (except for that annoying American army base like a hideous wart on the face of a beautiful woman).  It's really fun to sing and Cubans sing it at parties, where people take turns making up verses on the spot.

Answer 5

Yes as was mentioned twice, it is based on a poem by José Martí, a Cuban nationalist poet and independence hero.

In the original lyrics, the author referred to a "guajira guantanamera" (a peasant girl from Guantánamo), but since the song itself is structured as a guajira (the Cuban rhythm, named after Cuban peasants), some people think that the chorus refers to the song itself (or, rather, its rhythmic structure), and not to an individual person.

In other words, the words are interpreted as an introduction to a "guajira, Guantánamo-style" (which is part of Cuba -- thus a Cuban style).

The song became a popular use as romantic, patriotic, humorous, or social commentary lyrics, in Cuba and in the other Spanish speaking parts of the world.

Here is the English translation of Guantanamera:

I am a sincere man

From where the palm tree grows

And before dying I want

To let out the verses of my soul

My verse is light green

And it is flaming red

My verse is a wounded stag

Who seeks refuge on the mountain

I grow a white rose

In June just as in January

For the honest friend

Who gives me his open hand

With the poor people of the earth

I want to cast my lot

The brook of the mountains

Gives me more pleasure than the sea