Visura Magazine » Latinoamérica by Calle 13

Latinoamérica by Calle 13 – English Lyrics

Radio Announcer:
“Good morning to the beloved listeners of your radio IntiRaymi.

How are you? Are you ok? And, how is everyone in this town of Cuzco? Either way, to everyone outside this town, every person listening, brothers and sisters. Now, I introduce you to the young boys that sing well, they come from the land of Puerto Rico; they are called CALLE 13 and they are bringing us good music. The name of the song is LATINOAMÉRICA (Latin America), Let’s listen…”

Song Lyrics:

I am,

I am what they left behind,

I am the leftovers of what they’ve stolen.

A hidden town in the summit,

My skin is of leather that’s why it withstands any weather.

I am a smoke factory,

Peasant labour for your consumption

Cold front in the middle of summer,

Love in the time of cholera, my brother!

I’m the sun that rises and the day that dies,

with the best sunsets.

I am the development in raw flesh,

a political speech without saliva.

The most beautiful faces I have ever met,

I am the picture of a missing person.

I am the blood in your veins,

I am a piece of land which is worthy

I am a basket with beans,

I am Maradona against England scoring two goals.

I am what supports my flag,

The planet’s spine is my mountain range.

I am what my father taught me,

Whoever doesn’t love their country doesn’t love their mother.

I am Latin America,

A nation without legs but still walking.

You can’t buy the wind.

You can’t buy the sun.

You can’t buy the rain.

You can’t buy the heat.

You can’t buy the clouds.

You can’t buy the colours.

You can’t buy my happiness.

You can’t buy my pain.

I have lakes, I have rivers.

I have my teeth for when I smile.

The snow coating my mountains.

I have the sun which dries me and the rain which bathes me.

A dessert drunk on peyote and a drink of pulque to sing with the coyotes. Everything I need.

My lungs breath clean air.

The suffocating altitude.

I am the molars of my mouth chewing coca.

The autumn with its fainting leaves.

The verses written under a starlight night.

A vineyard full of grapes.

A cane plantation under the sun of Cuba.

I am the Caribbean Sea looking after the little houses,

Performing rituals with blessed water.

The wind that combs my hair.

I am all the saints that hang from my neck.

My fight is not fruitless,

Because the manure of my land is natural.

You can’t buy the wind.

You can’t buy the sun.

You can’t buy the rain.

You can’t buy the heat.

You can’t buy the clouds.

You can’t buy the colours.

You can’t buy my happiness.

You can’t buy my pain.

You can’t buy the wind

You can’t buy the sun

You can’t buy the rain

You can’t buy the heat

You can’t buy the clouds

You can’t buy the colours

You can’t buy my happiness

You can’t buy my pain

You can’t buy my happiness

You can’t buy my sadness

You can’t buy the sun.

You can’t buy the rain.

(We draw the path, we walk)

You can’t buy my life.

MY LAND IS NOT FOR SALE.

I work hard but with pride.

Here we share, what’s mine is yours.

This nation doesn’t drown with the waves.

And if it collapses I rebuild it.

I don’t even blink when I look at you,

So you’ll remember my last name.

Operation Condor invading my nest,

I forgive but never forget!

(We walk)

Here struggle is perceived.

(We walk)

I sing to be listened.

Here we stand

Long live Latin America!