Gracias a la vida [English translation]

Gracias a la vida

Life has given me so much

The large and the small things

Two eyes to see all things

So I can clearly distinguish

The blackness from the whiteness

And in the sky the brightness

Of the stars up above me

And in the crowded streets

I can pick out the one who loves me

Gracias a la vida

Life has given me so much

Gave me hearing and memory

To record Nature's melody

I hear the crickets and canaries

The giant hammers pounding

Thunder resounding

And the cry of a starling

And the sweet and tender voice

Of my own dear darling

Gracias a la vida

Life has given me so much

Gave me sounds I can't forget

And all the letters of the alphabet

To make the words and the phrases

That tell my heart's desire

Like mother, friend, and fire

And light, that shows clearly

The path of the soul

Of the one I love so dearly

Gracias a la vida

Life has given me so much

Tired feet for traveling

And roads for unraveling

I wandered through the cities

The prairies and the mountains

Saw the streams and the fountains

But my happiest hours

Were on the street where you live

Your house and your garden flowers

Gracias a la vida

Life has given me so much

Gave me a human heart

That tears itself apart

When I look at the things we do

In our world, in our neighbourhood

The evil and the good

The foolish and the wise

When I look into the depths

Of my own true love's eyes

Gracias a la vida

Life has given me so much

Gave me all the laughter

And all the weeping that comes after

So I can clearly distinguish

The joy from the sorrow

Two things I borrow

To make melody

I hold the guitar, you give the song to me

Gracias a la vida

Que me ha dado tanto......

• Artist:Violeta Parra