La carta [English translation]

They sent me a letter

by the post, this morning.

In this letter they tell me that my brother is in jail

and that, merciless, they dragged him in chains by the street, yes.

The letter tells the reason.

What Roberto has done.

He had supported the strike that is now resolved.

Well, if that is the reason please take me to jail too, sargent, yes.

I, so far away,

waiting for news.

The letter tells me that in my country there's no justice.

The hungered ask for bread and they receive bullets, yes.

In this pompous manner,

they want to keep their seats.

Those with fans and frac, unworthy of them.

They come and go from the church while forgetting the commandments, yes.

Ever seen such an insolence,

barbarity and treachery:

to present the rifle and kill at blank point

the defenseless and empty handed, yes.

The letter that I received

asks for an answer.

I ask that it propagates through the entire population

that Leon is a murderer in every generation, yes.

Lucky, I have my guitar

to cry my pain.

I also have nine brothers, other than the one in jail.

The nine are communists, with god's blessing, yes.

• Artist:Violeta Parra