A song and a message of gratitude

for subscribers of Social Issues in Song

Hi all,

The end of the year is here. I would like to thank all of you who have subscribed to Social Issues in Song this year. Social Issues in Song is read by people in 17 countries, and YOU are one of those people. I deeply appreciate your support.

“Year’s end” in Japanese

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Today, I’d like to offer a song that is not really about any particular person or event in history. The songwriter is very well-known. Her name is Violeta Parra. 

Violeta Parra was born in Chile in 1917. She loved music and art and played many instruments such as the guitar and the charango. She sang songs that told stories about her country and its people.

Bolivian charango, photo by Villanueva, Public Domain

Violeta traveled around Chile and learned about its traditions. She also  collected popular songs and shared them with others. 

Violeta Parra died in 1967, but her love for music, art, and her country still inspires people today. This song, Gracias a la vida, is one of her most famous and most-loved songs.

The song expresses gratitude - to say “thank you” - for many things that we might forget as we live our daily lives, simple things such as the beauty of nature, the people we love and who love us, the ability to see or to walk, the ability to laugh and to cry, and the gift of song.

Wishing you good health, peace, and prosperity in 2024.

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Question:

What are you grateful for?

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VOCABULARY found in the lyrics of the song:

inspire 動かす

gratitude 感謝

prosperity 繁栄

distinguish 区別する

multitudes 群衆

declare 宣言する/言う

traverse 渡す/縦走

puddle 水たまり

plains 平原

shudder 震える

longing 憧れ