“thanks to life”

The other day I read a post of my friend, Lori@Lori’s Lane and she wrote about being thankful for what we have and what we are, Dynamic Gratitude. She asked us what we are thankful for and I remember a song that I met many years ago and that I have so very strong memories from.

Because it was preformed on the funeral of one of the greatest politicians of the world that ever lived, at least what I think, the Swedish Prime Minister Olof Plame. That was brutally assassinated while walk home from the cinema with his wife Lisbeth, February 28 – 1986.  He shot on open street in Stockholm city centre and the killer never caught. And I think that most Swedes connect this the Swedish version “Jag Vill Tacka Livet” with Olof’s funeral, there it was preformed by the Finish female singer, Arja Saijonmaa.

Then I though I would do a post about this very special song – the lyrics are so beautiful and it’s really what we all should be so thankful for … but often forget about. This is what Lori wrote about in her post – the dynamic gratitude, but  still we take it all for granted. Because after all we only have life as loan and we never know for how long.

“Gracias a la vida” is a song composed and first performed by Chilean musician Violeta Parra. It was released in Las Últimas Composiciones (1966), the last album Parra published before committing suicide in 1967.  Around 40 artist has recorded this song: Joan Baez, Yasmin Levy, Plácido Domingo, Nana Mouskouri, Mercedes Sosa, Richard Clayderman, Michael Bublé, Pasión Vega and Alberto Cortez.

“Gracias a la Vida” was also a charity single recorded by the a supergroup of world famous artists –  Artists for Chile, called too Voces Unidas por Chile in 2010. The song was released on March 29, 2010. for raise money and support to Chile earthquake victims.

“Gracia a la Vida”/”Thanks for life”

Thanks to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me two stars, which when I open them,
Perfectly distinguish black from white
And in the tall sky its starry backdrop,
And within the multitudes the one that I love.

Thanks to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me hearing that, in all of its reach
Records night and day crickets and canaries,
Hammers and turbines, bricks and storms,
And the tender voice of my beloved.

Thanks to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me sound and the alphabet.
With them the words I think and declare:
“Mother,” “Friend,” “Brother” and light shining down on
The road of the soul of the one I’m loving.

Thanks to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me the steps of my tired feet.
With them I have traversed cities and puddles
Valleys and deserts, mountains and plains.
And your house, your street and your garden.

Thanks to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me this heart that shakes its frame,
When I see the fruit of the human brain,
When I see good so far from evil,
When I look into the depth of your light eyes…

Thanks to life, which has given me so much.
It gave me laughter and it gave me tears.
With them I distinguish happiness from pain
The two elements that make up my song,
And your song, as well, which is the same song.
And everyone’s song, which is my very song.

“Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy”
Jacques Maritain

Photos provided by and thanks to: sverigesradio.se/last.fm/en.wikipedia.org