Lyrics of Gracias a la vida - Violeta Parra, Los Calchakis, Isabel

Gracias a la vida (original)

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me dio dos luceros que cuando los abro
Perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco
Y en el alto cielo su fondo estrellado
Y en las multitudes el hombre que yo amo
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el oído que en todo su ancho
Graba noche y día grillos y canarios
Martirios, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos
Y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario
Con él, las palabras que pienso y declaro
Madre, amigo, hermano
Y luz alumbrando la ruta del alma del que estoy amando
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados
Con ellos anduve ciudades y charcos
Playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos
Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me dio el corazón que agita su marco
Cuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano
Cuando miro el bueno tan lejos del malo
Cuando miro el fondo de tus ojos claros
Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto
Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto
Así yo distingo dicha de quebranto
Los dos materiales que forman mi canto
Y el canto de ustedes que es el mismo canto
Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto
Gracias a la vida, gracias a la vida

(translation)

Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He gave me two stars that when I open them
Perfect I distinguish black from white
And in the high sky its starry background
And in the crowds the man that I love
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He has given me the ear that in all its width
Record night and day crickets and canaries
Martyrdoms, turbines, barks, showers
And the tender voice of my beloved
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
It has given me the sound and the alphabet
With him, the words I think and declare
mother, friend, brother
And light illuminating the path of the soul of the one I'm loving
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He has given me the march of my weary 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, which has given me so much
He gave me the heart that shakes its frame
When I look at the fruit of the human brain
When I look at the good so far from the bad
When I look at the bottom of your clear eyes
Thanks to life, which has given me so much
He has given me laughter and he has given me tears
This is how I distinguish happiness from brokenness
The two materials that make up my song
And your song, which is the same song
And everyone's song that is my own song
Thanks to life, thanks to life