Llévame Donde Nací
Encyclopedia
Llévame Donde Nací is the title of a traditional
Spanish language
patriotic
song
about Gibraltar
attributed to Gibraltarian
, guitarist
and composer
Pepe Roman.
to the United States of America in search of job opportunities, but were instead faced with the hardships of the Great Depression
. The song reflects the disillusion, anxiety and homesickness of these emigrants.
During the Second World War, this song became an anthem
for those civilians who were evacuated from The Rock
.
The song's popularity was maintained thereafter as Spanish sovereignty claims over Gibraltar
during the 1960s leading to the eventual closure of the land frontier, resulting in complete isolation from the hinterland
, gave rise to an increase in patriotic fervour.
demonstration
s and cultural events
. The most notable being the Gibraltar National Day
when it is sung by a school choir outside the City Hall
every 10 September before the Mayor
reads the National Day Declaration.
It is also the tune played by the chimes of the clock situated atop Watergate House at Grand Casemates Square on the hour.
Llévame donde nací,
Que a tu lado quiero estar.
No hay un sitio para mí,
Como mi buen Gibraltar.
Solo donde vi la luz,
Tengo puesta mi ilusión.
Llévame quiero morir,
Junto aquel mi gran Peñón.
La Línea y el Campamento,
Algeciras y mucho más,
Los dominan por su altura,
El Peñón de Gibraltar.
Aunque América es muy grande,
Y tiene mucho que ver,
Yo quiero a mi Peñoncito,
Aquel que me dio a mí el ser.
Take me back to where I was born,
As I want to be by your side.
There is no better place for me,
Than my good Gibraltar.
Only where I was born,
I have my illusion set.
Take me, I want to die,
Next to that, my great Rock.
La Línea and Campamento,
Algeciras and much more,
Are dominated in height,
By the Rock of Gibraltar.
Even though America is very big,
And it has a lot to see,
I love my little Rock,
That which gave me my being.
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
patriotic
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
about Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
attributed to Gibraltarian
Gibraltarian people
The Gibraltarians are a cultural group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea.- Origins :...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Pepe Roman.
History
The song was written in the early 1930s after many Gibraltarians emigratedEmigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
to the United States of America in search of job opportunities, but were instead faced with the hardships of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. The song reflects the disillusion, anxiety and homesickness of these emigrants.
During the Second World War, this song became an anthem
Anthem
The term anthem means either a specific form of Anglican church music , or more generally, a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a distinct group of people, as in the term "national anthem" or "sports anthem".-Etymology:The word is derived from the Greek via Old English , a word...
for those civilians who were evacuated from The Rock
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
.
The song's popularity was maintained thereafter as Spanish sovereignty claims over Gibraltar
Disputed status of Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, near the southernmost tip of the Iberian peninsula, which is the subject of a disputed irredentist claim by Spain....
during the 1960s leading to the eventual closure of the land frontier, resulting in complete isolation from the hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
, gave rise to an increase in patriotic fervour.
Current use
Llévame Donde Nací is now one of many patriotic songs sung by crowds at big public events such as politicalPolitics of Gibraltar
Gibraltar is represented in the European Union, having been the only British overseas territory which joined the EC under the British Treaty of Accession ....
demonstration
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
s and cultural events
Culture of Gibraltar
The culture of Gibraltar reflects Gibraltarians' diverse origins. While there are Spanish and British influences, a result of the territory's status as a British overseas territory and its proximity to Spain, the ethnic origins of most Gibraltarians are a mix of Andalusian Spaniards, Genoese,...
. The most notable being the Gibraltar National Day
Gibraltar National Day
Gibraltar National Day, celebrated annually on 10 September, is the official national day of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The day commemorates Gibraltar's first sovereignty referendum of 1967, in which Gibraltarian voters were asked whether they wished to either pass under Spanish...
when it is sung by a school choir outside the City Hall
Gibraltar City Hall
The Gibraltar City Hall is the city hall for Gibraltar, centrally located within the city at the west end of John Mackintosh Square. It is the official residence of the Mayor of Gibraltar.-History:...
every 10 September before the Mayor
Mayor of Gibraltar
His or Her Worship, the Mayor of Gibraltar, is currently the ceremonial official of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The Mayor is appointed by the elected Members of Parliament and takes residency in the City Hall...
reads the National Day Declaration.
It is also the tune played by the chimes of the clock situated atop Watergate House at Grand Casemates Square on the hour.
Spanish (original)
Que a tu lado quiero estar.
No hay un sitio para mí,
Como mi buen Gibraltar.
Solo donde vi la luz,
Tengo puesta mi ilusión.
Llévame quiero morir,
Junto aquel mi gran Peñón.
La Línea y el Campamento,
Algeciras y mucho más,
Los dominan por su altura,
El Peñón de Gibraltar.
Aunque América es muy grande,
Y tiene mucho que ver,
Yo quiero a mi Peñoncito,
Aquel que me dio a mí el ser.
English (translation)
As I want to be by your side.
There is no better place for me,
Than my good Gibraltar.
Only where I was born,
I have my illusion set.
Take me, I want to die,
Next to that, my great Rock.
La Línea and Campamento,
Algeciras and much more,
Are dominated in height,
By the Rock of Gibraltar.
Even though America is very big,
And it has a lot to see,
I love my little Rock,
That which gave me my being.