Mercedes Sosa, 1935 -2009

Mercedes Sosa, one of our very most favorite Latin American singers, died today in Buenos Aires. Stirling and I both saw her live in different concerts in Buenos Aires in 2003. She had a magnificent presence and stunning voice.

Every Christmas (and other times too), we listen to "La navidad de Luis" which she sang with Leon Gieco. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNygMUZdmpk . I've copied the Spanish lyrics below and translated them into English.

La Navidad de Luis

Toma Luis, mañana es Navidad.

un pan dulce y un poco de vino,
ya que no puedes comprar.

Toma Luis, llévalo a tu casa
y podrás junto con tu padre
la Navidad festejar.

Mañana no vengas a trabajar,
que el pueblo estará de fiesta
y no habrá tristezas...

Señora, gracias por lo que me da,
pero yo no puedo esto llevar
porque mi vida no es de Navidad.

Señora, ¿cree que mi pobreza
llegará al final comiendo pan
el día de Navidad?

Mi padre me dará algo mejor,

me dirá que Jesús es como yo,

y entonces así podré seguir...

Viviendo,

viviendo,
viviendo,

viviendo,

viviendo,

viviendo,

viviendo,

viviendo.

Luis's Christmas

Here, Luis, tomorrow is Christmas
Some sweet bread and a little wine,
Things you can't afford to buy.

Here Luis, take it home
At home with your father
You can celebrate Christmas.

Tomorrow, don't come to work
The entire village will celebrate
There won't be any sadness . . .

Ma'am, thank you for your gift
but I can't accept it
because my life is not like Christmas.

Ma'am, do you believe that my poverty
will come to an end simply by eating bread
on Christmas Day?

My father gives me something better
He tells me that Jesus is like me
And so, I can keep on

Living,
living,
living,
living,
living,
living,
living.