PLANY AL MAR (LAMENT FOR THE SEA)

Music and lyrics by Joan Manuel Serrat
Translation by Coby Lubliner

Bressol de vida, camins de somnis, pont de cultures (ai, qui ho diria...!) ha estat el mar. Mireu-lo fet una claveguera. Mireu-lo anar i venir sense parar. Sembla mentida que en el seu ventre es fes la vida. Ai, qui ho diria sense rubor! Mireu-lo fet una claveguera, ferit de mort. De la manera que el desvalisen i l’enverinen, ai, qui ho diria, que ens dóna el pa! Mireu-lo fet una claveguera. Mireu-lo anar i venir sense parar. On són els savis i els poderosos que s’anomenen (ai, qui ho diria!) conservadors? Mireu-lo fet una claveguera, ferit de mort. Quanta abundància, quanta bellesa, quanta energia (ai, qui ho diria!) feta malbé! Per ignorància, per imprudència, per inconsciència i per mala llet. Jo que volia que m’enterressin entre la platja (ai, qui ho diria!) i el firmament! I serem nosaltres (ai, qui ho diria!) els qui t’enterrem.

Cradle of living, Crossroads of dreaming, Bridging of cultures, (Oh, who would say it...!) That’s been the sea.. See how it’s been made into a sewer. See how it goes and comes unceasingly. It’s past believing That deep inside it Life was created. Oh, who would say it And not feel shamed! See how it’s been made into a sewer, wounded and maimed. If one were watching The way it’s plundered, The way it’s poisoned, Oh, who would say that It feeds us free! See how it’s been made into a sewer. See how it goes and comes unceasingly. Where are the wise men, The men of power, Conservatives, as they (Oh, who would say it!) Like to be named? See how it’s been made into a sewer, wounded and maimed. So much abundance And so much beauty And so much power (Oh, who would say it!) All gone to waste! By lack of knowledge, by lack of caution, By lack of foresight and by greedy haste. I was the one who Asked to be buried Between the beach and (Oh, who would say it!) The sky of blue! And we’ll be the ones who - (Oh, who would say it!) - Who will bury you.

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