Translation of the song lyrics Si Se Calla el Cantor - Mercedes Sosa

Si Se Calla el Cantor (original)

Si se calla el cantor calla la vida
Porque la vida, la vida misma es todo un canto
Si se calla el cantor, muere de espanto
La esperanza, la luz y la alegría
Si se calla el cantor se quedan solos
Los humildes gorriones de los diarios
Los obreros del puerto se persignan
Quién habrá de luchar por su salario
Si se calla el cantor muere la rosa
De que sirve la rosa sin el canto
Debe el canto ser luz sobre los campos
Iluminando siempre a los de abajo
Que no calle el cantor porque el silencio
Cobarde apaña la maldad que oprime
No saben los cantores de agachadas
No callarán jamás de frente al crimén
Si se calla el cantor… calla la vida

Si Se Calla el Cantor (translation)

If the singer is silent, life is silent
Because life, life itself is all a song
If the singer is silent, he dies of fright
The hope, the light and the joy
If the singer is silent they are left alone
The humble sparrows of the newspapers
The port workers cross themselves
Who will fight for his salary
If the singer is silent, the rose dies
What good is the rose without the song
Must the song be light over the fields
Always lighting up those below
Let the singer not be silent because the silence
Coward manages the evil that oppresses
The singers don't know about crouching
They will never be silent in the face of crime
If the singer is silent... life is silent