Si El Norte Fuera El Sur

There are some songs that are so poetic and profound that they are meant to be discussed in length, as is the song I am now going to post here and translate.  I hope you enjoy its lyrics and find it as truthful and poignant as I did.  Ricardo Arjona is of Guatemalian descent, a talented singer/song writer who writes about social injustices.  A former teacher and basketball player in his homeland.  He has been in the music scene since 1985; this song was released in 1996.

Si El Norte Fuera El Sur

(If the North Where the South)

Artist: Ricardo Arjona

Album: Si El Norte Fuera El Sur

El Norte, sus McDonald's, basketball y Rock n' Roll

[The North, with its McDonald's, basketball and Rock n' Roll]

Sus topless, sus Madonas y el abdomen de Stallone

[It's topless (bars), it's Madonnas and the abdomen of Stallone]

Intelectuales del bonceados, eruditos de supermercado

[Intellectuals of tanning, scholars of the supermarket]

Tienen todo pero nada han pagado

[Have everything but have paid for nothing]

Con 18 eres un niño para un trago en algún bar

[At 18, you are a child for a drink at any bar]

Pero ya eres todo un hmbre pa' la guerra y pa' matar

[But, you are already a grown man for war and to kill]

Viva Vietnam y que viva Forest Gump

[Long Live Vietnam and Long Live Forrest Gump]

Viva Wall Street y que viva Donald Trump

[Long Live Wall Street and Long Live Donald Trump]

Viva el Seven Eleven

[Long Live Seven Eleven]

Polvean sus nariz y usan jeringa en sus bolsillos

[Dust their nose and use syringes in their pockets]

Viajan con Marihuana para entender la situación

[They travel with Marijuana to understand the situation]

De este juez del planeta que lanza una invitación

[Of this judge of the planet which sent forth an invitation]

Cortar se lo a tú marido y ganarás reputación

[Cut it off your husband (as in Lorena Bobbit) and you will earn a reputation (become famous)]

Coro:

[Chorus]

Las barras y las estrellas se adueñan de mi bandera

[The stripes and stairs are overpowering my flag]

Y nuestra libertad no es otra cosa que una ramera

[And our liberty is nothing more than a whore]

Y si la deuda externa nos robo la primavera

[And if the external debt robbed us of our spring]

Al diablo la geographia se acabaron las fronteras

[To the Devil with geography, the borders are no more]

Si el Norte fuera el Sur, los Sioux los marginados, 
[If the North were the South, the Sioux would be the ones marginalized,]


ser moreno y chaparrito sería el look mas cotizado.
[being brown (mixed) and short would be the look most desired]


Marco sería el Rambo Mexicano y Cindy Crawford la Menchú de mis paisanos, 
[(Subcommander) Mark (Leader of the Zapatista Movement) would be the Mexican Rambo and Cindy Crawford the (Rigoberta) Menchú (Activist) of my countrymen]


Reagan sería Somosa.
[(Ronald) Reagan would be (Anastasio) Somosa (Marxist)]


Fidel sería una atleta corriendo bolsas por Wall Street.

[Fidel (Castro) would be an athlete running bags for Wall Street]

Y el Ché hara hamburguesas al estilo Double Meat.

[And Che (Guevarra) (Revolutionary Rebel) would be flipping hamburgers to the order of Double Meat]

Los yankees de mojados a Tijuana.

[The yankees (Americans) wetbacks to Tijuana]

Y las balsas de Miami a la Habana, si el Norte fuera el Sur.

[The floats from Miami to Havana, if the North were the South]

Seríamos igual o tal vez un poco peor

[We would be the same or perhaps a little worst off]

Con las Malvinas por Groenlandia

[The Falkland Islands by Greenland]

Y en Guatemala un Disneylandia

[And in Guatemala a Disneyland]

Y un Simón Bolivar rompiendo su secreto

[And a Simon Bolivar breaking his secret]

Ah les va el 187, fuera a los yankees por decreto

[Oh, there goes the 187, outcast the yankees (Americans) by decree]

Coro:  2 X

[Chorus] 2 X

Si el Norte fuera el Sur, sería la misma porqueria

[If the North were the South, it would be the same rubbish]

Yo cantaria un Rap y esta canción no existiría.

[I would be singing Rap and this song would not exist]

Once again, thank you Wikipedia for information on these comparisons; www.musica.com/letras.asp?letra-93672 for the lyrics; Google Translate for help with the translations; Yours Truly for translating the song to English; and Ricardo Arjona for this inspiring creation.

The Influence of Your Name

Most people go around their whole lives not knowing that the significance of their name has a great bearing on who they are and who they will become.  There are whole libraries dedicated to the etymology (study of origins of words) and onomastics (study of proper names) research of names.  I am a true believer that a strong name develops a strong individual.  With this in mind, I have researched the names of those in my extended family, since we are numerous enough to nicely fill in a page; I will ask that you patiently go down the list.  I hope this is a blessing to my family individually and collectively.

Our matriarch, Antonia, a very strong name indeed.  It means Praiseworthy and Priceless.  The Queen Bee of the Family.  Very appropriate.  Very popular in Greece and Italy; of Spanish and English origin.

Next comes our second mother, Aida.  She is the eldest of us eleven.  The one who took it upon herself to care and watch over us as we multiplied around her.  I could never be able to tell her how much I truly love and appreciate her.  Aida means Helper, Happy Bearer and Wealthy.  It is mostly found in Latin America, of Spanish, French, Italian and English origin.

Lillian is no longer with us.  Extremely bright and beautiful.  We lost our dear sister in 1994,  a victim of her own vices.  She is sorely missed.  Lillian is a blend of Lilli and Ann.  Of English Origin.

Now the third child Marilyn, she is quite a character.  Prone to exaggerating every single little thing and lives in constant dramatization of her life and those around her.  Marilyn means descendant of Mary and is derived of the name Mary; which means "wished for child."   Origin: Israeli, Hebrew and English.

Edwin's name is quite interesting.  It means Prosperous Friend, Rich in Friendship or Happy Friend.  He certainly has lived his life with gusto.  It is of English and German origin.

Vernon.  Now his name does fit him quite well.  Vernon means, Youthful and Young at Heart, Alder Tree Grove; an Aristocratic name brought fought to England from Normandy.  Vernon has always had a smile on his face and laughter has always followed him around.  Found largely in Latin America; of French and English origin.

Now, Juan, spanish for John, was truly a wonderful surprise.  I had no idea it meant "God is Gracious" and a "Gift from God."  I can't wait to tell my brother.  He needs to hear this now.  Mostly found in Spanish countries; Juan is of Hebrew origin.

Benigno is a derivative of Benign which means Good.  Also found it to mean Friendly and Kind.  I love my brother Benny, he is truly kind and very intelligent. The first of the Echevarrias.  The head of our clan.  Origin: Italy.

Elvis means Wise and Sage.  Elve wise; belonging to the Elves.  My brother Elvis is one of those complicated souls, and I will leave it at that!!  Of Scandinavian origin.

Gladys has several meanings and it really depends where you look which meaning you will find.  Feminine name from the Welsh name Gwladus or Gwladys which bears the meaning of Royalty or Rulers.  Of Welsh origin,  it seems to mean Territorial Ruler, as in Royalty and Princess.  On the flip side, if associated with Claudia or Claud it would take a whole other meaning as in Lame.  That one I never liked and am happy to have continued researching the name and found the one meaning Royalty.  That one I like.  :)

William means Protector.  Funny, I always thought it meant Willful, as in Will I Am, and I was hoping to bring that to my brother's attention.  But it was not to be and once again my dear little brother navigated under my radar and was not to be scolded.  William is quite the Protector and his name is quite fitting.  It is of German and English origin.

And finally our baby brother, Ismael which means the "Lord will Hear" and "God Listens."  I had no idea.  Ish is truly blessed and we have all cuddled and loved him throughout his life.  Of Israeli, Hebrew and Spanish origin.

All these wonderful names.  All these beautiful blessings we are not reaping. Everyone should look up and live up to their name.  There is power in your name. Harvest it.

Research and Information taken from  www.meaning-of-names.com/ and Wikipedia (Gladys(given name)).