Samba For You

Do you ever look at the searches that bring people to your blog?

Some are really strange and have nothing to do with what’s written here. Those searching for inappropriate things to do with your sister, yuck! If it’s Demi Moore, Laura San Giacomo, Anne Heche and Drew Barrymore topless you seek, this is also not the site for you.

Other searches I understand completely: hand washing, bug killing, Elmer Thomas, Carrie Underwood, Charlton Heston in Naked Jungle, Trace Adkins’ Muddy Water, Lawton La Sill ice cream, Annie Leibovitz photos, boil chicken for dogs, best gravy recipe, leg braces, dog cyst, “had that song in my head all day”, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and hot Okie Sister.

But seriously, one recent search really got to me. I wish I could answer their question in person. They wanted to know if it was appropriate to play Santana’s Samba Pa Ti at a funeral. If you are not familiar with this song, it is a beautiful instrumental piece by Carlos Santana from his 1970 Abraxas album. One of my favorite songs in all the world.

Jose Feliciano loved this song so much, that in 1982 when he did a cover of it, he added the following lyrics. So beautiful. Listen here.

Soy la sombra de una pena,
Soy el eco de un dolor.
Triste soledad, que me queda hoy.
El recuerdo de que te amé
Y una extraña desolación, eyy, eyyy.
Soy la sombra de una pena,
Soy el eco de un dolor.
Quiero olvidar, quiero encontrar perdón.
Ten piedad de mi corazón
Yo te imploro mi Señor.
Borraré las tinieblas y esconderé mi llanto
El recuerdo que sufro se volverá un canto.
Volveré a la vida, volveré a cantar, ya verá,
Volveré a la vida, volveré a cantar, ya verá.

Very, very loosely translated means:
I am the shadow of grief, I am the echo of pain. Sad loneliness that I have left today. The memory of loving you. A strange desolation. I am the shadow of grief, I am the echo of pain. I want to forget, I want to find forgiveness. Have mercy on my heart I implore you my Lord. Erase the darkness and hide my tears. The memory of what I suffer will become a song. I will return to life, I will sing again, you will see, I will return to life, I will sing again, you will see.

(if someone wants to email me the correct translation, that would be great)

“I’m sorry you suffered a loss. I hope that you played the music you wanted at the funeral. Whatever brought you some peace and comfort. I can’t even begin to list all the times that listening to Santana lifted my spirits and filled my heart with joy. I think this song is absolutely appropriate. I consider it okay to play joyous music and celebrate the fact that you were blessed by knowing and loving the person. Peace to you today.”

This week I visited one of the blogs I follow regularly, Alamo North, because I just learned that Nola had lost her Dad and I wanted to leave a message. Guess what song started playing?

Comments

[Brenda Kula]

Yes, the funeral is tomorrow. I hope to hear from her later this week. Want to hear her voice so I know she's okay...
Brenda

[elaine warner]

I know what you mean about the search business. The most hit on blog post of mine was called "Guys Gone Wild." I guess people were looking for porn. This was actually about a Chicken Run during Mardi Gras in Louisiana. But it gave me an idea for getting traffic to my blog -- give suggestive names to my posts like Debby does Denver and Hot Mamas in Minneapolis. Or maybe not.

[Nola]

I was hurrying through that post so I could tell you how much I LOVE Carlos and that Samba Pa Ti is my fav CS song, ever, and that is saying a lot. Then I saw your mention of me, and smiled! I will have that song played at my funeral you can be sure. I never heard lyrics, I will have to listen to that again! How odd, I never knew their were lyrics, but now that I read them, they are sooooo appropriate! It gives me chills! God Bless Carlos Santana ~ he is an angel on earth, always soothing my soul when I need comfort!