Lamento Boliviano -Los Enanitos Verdes (English Subtitles)

Although this song is called “Lamento Boliviano” it is a song from an Argentinean group- Los Enanitos Verdes. The title of the song is an expression that refers to a person always lamenting/complaining about the same thing.

It might seem odd that the line “baby/girl don’t comb your hair in bed” is followed by “or travelers will be delayed.” This may be in reference to a superstition which also appears in the book "Crónica de una muerte anunciada" (A Chronicle of a Death Foretold) by Gabriel García Márquez. In the book, a mother would insist that her daughters not comb their hair in bed, because it is said to bring bad luck to travelers. In another variation, it causes your menstrual period to be late. There are many variations of this superstition. Our mothers and grandmothers were full of them :)

Of course there are other possible references this could be making, but like many artists, Los Enanitos have chosen not to explicitly explain the meaning, leaving it to the listener to find the meaning that resonates with them.

[mandygray]

Thank you for this translation...one of my favorite songs

[Grandwizard]

I'm in love with that part 2:21-2:42

[cucutacanada]

Though there are many thing that this could mean, I will add the comment that this song also was dedicated to the indigenous/Andean people of latin america.

in this you will hear the influence of indigenous instruments like la Quena also Zampoña or Siku. and then the sound of the signing that resembles a traditional one that is accompanied by a drum and other instruments. I have no Idea if it means something but in first nations of north America those singing before the choir tend to mean something.

The beginning part tells of how strong they are or used to be, and describe that what they were once before the Conquest of Spain and they are a "lament that one day started and is not going to end" saying about all they lost as tradition and communities ( a lot of tribes in Latin America were extinguish or the civilization got significantly reduce they font the city of their ancestors) and the part that says nobody can hurt well it means no one cares even though everyone knows even them that it is still there. Ex: in recent years they got some gold from Colombia that was in the ocean. those millions or billions of gold should of been given to indigenous people or at least been used to make the country better. The Colombian government decided it was for Spain and their Royal family (even thought everyone knows to get that gold a lot of blood was spilled in vain) but people are alright with it so the pain goes on.

the chorus says about the character being "drunk and crazy" a lot of the Spaniard when conquering the new world used say that liquor was like a magic potion so maybe relates to that and crazy as they were called "savages or wild and uncivilized", then the part "and I'll love you, I'll love you for ever" could say about the pride of many people today being descendants of Spaniards from then. If you go to many countries in south America they are proud of their last name that is Spanish and in many occasions it is shameful to have a last name that is not Spanish if your family is decent from there.

"Baby don't comb your hair on the bed" it is a reference on the type of occasion she would be doing,

1. if she is a noble, rich or superior woman then the character who has a sexual attraction to her because of being of different race (yes, a lot of times we humans are attracted to what we are not used to) is telling her to for get the sailors and travelors from Spain who are returning. In colonial homes there are two place for a woman to beautify either the table area where she has the make up and jewellery (which is the custom to be elegant) or the bed could be more innocent and calm, thought, she is waiting for the travellers which means she is beautifying for sexual encounters.

2. The woman is an indigenous and many homes used to have a separate place where she would sleep, she wasn't able to be inside the home of the people who served or she is in a tribe, in this places they might not have a table for the jewellery like the previous example. but again she is waiting for the traveller which she might be more attracted to because of race, power (in some stories of Latin America a lot some indigenous women support the conquerors) . or could be the reference of how many indigenous women were left pregnant waiting for their loves to return to them.

sorry if this is too long ^^' just want to add to the information here.

I highly suggest to watch the music video if you have not with this info. also on the music video there is a lot of Symbolism of what it used to or might still be the point of view about Spain and us here.

[っっ-rl]

Es mi situación una desolación, soy como un lamento, lamento boliviano aaah temazooo

[elperrodelautumo]

I should give Lamento boliviano a listen to