Soldado

Annotation

The song "Soldado" ("Soldier") (Borinquen # DG 1221) by Raphy Leavitt, born 17 September 1948, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he moved to the US, and died on 5 August 2015, in Miami, Florida. This is in the Salsa genre, derived from Cuban Son and developed in places such as Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and New York City. The song was released on a San Juan music label, founded by Dario Gonzalez. The song looked at both the soldier and home front perspective, taking an anti-war position. The narrator said that "luck has abandoned" a man, as he was sent "away from your land...your loved ones" to fight in Vietnam. He "left full of heroism", but returned "in delirium". The soldier's "mother alone screams" while the soldier is away, "only god knows destiny of that sad brother". The narrator concluded with: "enough with weapons...oh suffering great pain".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

Spanish: Luck has abandoned you, now you have to go / While they taught you to love your brothers / Why will they take you, to other places to kill? / Soldier...you left in your land, your loved ones / Your parents, your friends, and that pretty woman soldier... / Where will it be, where will it have gone? / There on a mountain is lost, why this punishment? / Well away from your land, and instead of peace / They offer you soldier war, you left full of heroism / And now you return in delirium / Listen now, listen now, listen to this sound / And so you will know that I do not forget you / That woman who has loved you / He is still waiting for you here in his soldier's nest / Only God knows destiny of that sad brother / His mother alone screams, asking God to be blessed / Enough with weapons, may the heart reign / It is sunk in the undergrowth, oh suffering great pain La suerte te ha abandonado / Ahora tienes que marchar / Si bien te enseñaron, a amar tus hermanos / ¿Por que será que te llevan / a otros sitios a matar...? / Soldado... / Dejaste en tu tierra / tus seres amados / tus padres, tus amigos / y aquella linda mujer / Soldado... / Coro: ¿Dónde estará... dónde habrá ido.? / Allá en un monte esta perdido / ¿a que se debe tal castigo? / Bien alejado de tu tierra / y en vez de paz te ofrecen guerra soldado / Te fuistes lleno de heroísmo / y ahora regresas en delirio / Escucha ahora, escucha ahora / escucha este sonido / y así sabrás que no te olvido / Esa mujer que te ha…

Notes

Borinquen DG-1221, compatible stereo, "Mi Barrio", Raphy Leavitt y su Orquesta La Selecta; canta: Sammy Marrero; arr. Raphy Leavitt; Lado B track 1: "Soldado" (Raphy Leavitt); black label. Personnel: Raphy Leavitt (director, piano), Sammy Marrero (vocals), Billy Pizarro (1st trumpet), Luis Maisonett (2nd trumpet), Richard López (1st trombone), Franky León (2nd trombone), Jimmy Sánchez (bass), Nelson Ramos (timbales), William (Kidland) Marcano (conga), Pelo Román (bongo), Luis Maisonett and Jimmy Sánchez (coro). Produced by Darío González; recorded at Discos Borinquen Studio; recording engineer Richard Stanley; photo by José M. Feliciano; pressed by Río Piedras Record Mfg. The back-cover biography says Leavitt was born in Puerta de Tierra on 17 September 1948 and studied accordion at the academy of George Kudirka. "Soldado" was also issued as a single (b/w "Difícil de olvidar") on…

About the artist

Born 17 September 1948, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Died 5 August 2015, Miami, Florida, USA

Themes

Anti-War · Soldier's Perspective · Home Front Perspective

In collections

US Domestic Perspective Songs [War Years] · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs [War Years] · Puerto Rican Songs