Gracias A La Vida Lyrics in English Violeta Parra

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Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Gracias A La Vida by Violeta Parra from Spanish to English.

Verse 1

Thanks to life

That has given me so much

Verse 1

It gave me two bright stars

That when I open them

Verse 1

Perfectly distinguish

The black from the white

Verse 1

And in the high sky its starry background

And in the crowds the man that I love

Thanks to life

That has given me so much

It gave me the hearing

That in all its width

Records night and day

Crickets and canaries

Hammers, turbines, barks, downpours

And the tender voice of my beloved

Thanks to life

That has given me so much

It gave me the sound and the alphabet

With it the words

That I think and declare

Mother friend brother and light illuminating

The soul's path of the one I'm loving

Thanks to life

That has given me so much

It gave me the stride

Of my tired feet

With them I walked

Cities and puddles

Beaches and deserts mountains and plains

And your house, your street and your patio

Thanks to life

That has given me so much

It gave me the heart

That shakes its frame

When I look at the fruit

Of the human brain

When I see the good so far from the bad

When I look into the depths of your clear eyes

Thanks to life

That has given me so much

It gave me laughter

And it gave me tears

So I distinguish

Joy from sorrow

The two materials that form my song

And your song which is the same song

And everyone's song which is my own song

Thanks to life that has given me so much

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Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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SONG MEANING

Gracias A La Vida is like a radiant love letter to existence itself. Line by line, Violeta Parra thanks life for the everyday superpowers we often forget we have: eyes that can separate night from day and pick one special face out of a crowd, ears that catch everything from chirping crickets to a sweetheart’s whisper, words that let us name the people we treasure, and feet that carry us across deserts, beaches, and even to a loved one’s doorstep. Each verse turns an ordinary sense or ability into a moment of wonder, showing how every sound, sight, and step can sparkle when we look at it with gratitude.

Yet the song is not just sunshine. Parra also thanks life for both laughter and tears, reminding us that joy and sorrow weave together to create real, meaningful music. By the end she blends her personal song with “your song” and “everyone’s song,” inviting listeners into a shared chorus of appreciation. Whether you hear it as a gentle folk tune, a life-affirming anthem, or a quiet meditation, Gracias A La Vida teaches one unforgettable lesson: count your gifts, celebrate them out loud, and remember that the melody of life belongs to all of us.

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Violeta Parra Gracias A La Vida Lyrics