Gracias a la Vida Violeta Parra Translation Meaning and Lyrics

Song Meaning

'Gracias a la Vida' means 'Thanks to life' in English. It is a name of a song by 'Violeta Parra' human translated here by a native speaker.

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Lyrics and Translations

'Gracias a la Vida' human translated and annotated. Look for notes about interesting vocabulary, language constructions, idioms, changes to transcribed words, grammar rules and general info that our members have discovered

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Line 1

Original Lyrics: Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto

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Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Adverb
gracias	a	la	vida		que	mí	ha	dado	tanto
thanks	to	the	life		that	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	so much, long, hard, often, etc.
							3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
Thanks	to	the	life	,	that		it has	gave me	so much

Aligned Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

Free Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

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Line 2

Original Lyrics: Me dio dos luceros, que cuando los abro

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Pronoun	Verb	Numeral	Noun		Conjunction	Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb
mí	dio	dos	lucero		que	cuando	ellos	abro
me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	transitive to give, to give out	cardinal numbers two	luminary (natural light-giving body)		that	when	they, them (used subjectively and after prepositions; can refer to men, masculine nouns, groups of people or nouns of mixed gender, and (rarely) groups of neuter nouns).	transitive:intransitive reflexive to open, open up
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb dar							1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb abrir
	It gave me	two	luminary	,	that	when		I open them

Aligned Translation: It gave me two bright stars that when I open them

Free Translation: It gave me two bright stars that when I open

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Line 3

Original Lyrics: Perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco

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Adjective	Verb	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Adjective
perfecto	distingo	lo	negro	de	el	blanco
perfect	to distinguish, discern	(neuter definite article used to make abstract nouns from adjectives); the	black (the color perceived in the absence of light)	from (with the origin, starting point or initial reference of or at)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	white
	1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb distinguir
Perfect	I distinguish	the	black	from	the	white

Aligned Translation: Perfect I distinguish the black from the white

Free Translation: I clearly tell black from white

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Line 4

Original Lyrics: Y en el alto cielo, su fondo estrellado

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Conjunction	Preposition	Determiner	Adjective	Noun		Adjective	Noun	Verb
y	en	el	alto	cielo		suyo	fondo	estrellado
and	in, at, on	Masculine singular definite article; the.	high	sky		His, hers, its, to her.	fund, funding	{{reflexive of\|es\|estrellar}}
								Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb estrellarse
And	in	the	high	sky	,	its	funding	star filled

Aligned Translation: And in the high heaven, its starry background

Free Translation: And in the high heavens, its starry canvas

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Line 5

Original Lyrics: Y en las multitudes, el hombre que yo amo

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Conjunction	Preposition	Determiner	Noun		Determiner	Noun	Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb
y	en	las	multitud		el	hombre	que	yo	amo
and	in, at, on	the	crowd		Masculine singular definite article; the.	man, (adult male human)	that	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	to love, have great affection for, care about
									1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb amar
And	in	the	crowds	,	the	man	that	I	love

Aligned Translation: And among the crowds, the man that I love

Free Translation: And among the crowds, the man I love

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Line 6

Original Lyrics: Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto

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Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Adverb
gracias	a	la	vida		que	mí	ha	dado	tanto
thanks	to	the	life		that	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	so much, long, hard, often, etc.
							3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
Thanks	to	the	life	,	that		it has	gave me	so much

Aligned Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

Free Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

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Line 7

Original Lyrics: Me ha dado el oído, que en todo su ancho

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Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Preposition	Adjective	Adjective	Adjective
mí	ha	dado	el	oído		que	en	todo	suyo	ancho
me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	Masculine singular definite article; the.	ear (especially the inner parts)		that	in, at, on	all, every	His, hers, its, to her.	wide; broad
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
	It has	given me	the	ear	,	that	in	all	its	wide

Aligned Translation: It has given me hearing, which in all its reach

Free Translation: It gave me hearing that in all its reach

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Line 8

Original Lyrics: Graba noche y día, grillos y canarios

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Verb	Noun	Conjunction	Noun		Noun	Conjunction	Noun
graba	noche	y	días		grillo	y	canarios
to record	night (the period between sunset and sunrise)	and	plural of día		cricket (insect)	and	Plural of canario
3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb grabar
It records	night	and	days	,	crickets	and	canaries

Aligned Translation: Record night and day crickets and canaries

Free Translation: Records night and day, crickets and canaries

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Line 9

Original Lyrics: Martillos, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos

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Noun		Noun		Noun		Noun
martillo		turbina		ladrido		chubasco
hammer (a tool with a heavy head and a handle used for pounding)		turbine.		bark, yelp, yap, yip (short, loud, explosive utterance)		downpour, squall

Hammers	,	turbines	,	barks	,	downpour

Aligned Translation: Hammers, turbines, squalls and storms

Free Translation: Hammers, turbines, storms, and barking

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Line 10

Original Lyrics: Y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Adverb	Adjective	Preposition	Adjective	Adverb	Verb
y	la	voz	tan	tierno	de	mío	bien	amado
and	the	voice	so, as	tender, affectionate	of, from (indicating cause)	predicative or after the noun mine, my.	well (adverbial form of bueno)	to love oneself
								Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb amarse
And	the	voice	so	tender	of	my	well	loved

Aligned Translation: And the very tender voice of my well beloved

Free Translation: And the tender voice of my beloved

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Line 11

Original Lyrics: Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto

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Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Adverb
gracias	a	la	vida		que	mí	ha	dado	tanto
thanks	to	the	life		that	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	so much, long, hard, often, etc.
							3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
Thanks	to	the	life	,	that		it has	gave me	so much

Aligned Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

Free Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

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Line 12

Original Lyrics: Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario

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Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Determiner	Noun	Conjunction	Determiner	Noun
mí	ha	dado	el	sonido	y	el	abecedario
me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	Masculine singular definite article; the.	A sound, noise	and	Masculine singular definite article; the.	in the sense of: alphabet alphabet (an ordered set of letters used in a language)
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
	It has	given me	the	sound	and	the	alphabet

Aligned Translation: It has given me the sound and the alphabet

Free Translation: It gave me sound and the alphabet

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Original Lyrics: Con él, las palabras que pienso y declaro

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Preposition	Pronoun		Determiner	Noun	Conjunction	Verb	Conjunction	Verb
con	él		las	palabra	que	pienso	y	declaro
with	he, him, masculine personal third person subject and disjunctive pronoun (used as a subject and after prepositions)		the	word	that	to think	and	to declare, to state
						1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb pensar		1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb declarar
With	him	,	the	words	that	I think	and	declare

Aligned Translation: With it, the words that I think and declare

Free Translation: With them the words I think and speak:

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Line 14

Original Lyrics: Madre, amigo, hermano, y luz alumbrando

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Noun		Noun		Noun		Conjunction	Noun	Verb
madre		amigo		hermano		y	luz	alumbrando
mother		friend		brother		and	light	to illuminate
								Simple Gerund of the verb alumbrar
Mother	,	friend	,	brother	,	and	light	iluminating

Aligned Translation: Mother, friend, brother, and light shining

Free Translation: Mother, friend, brother, and light shining

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Line 15

Original Lyrics: La ruta del alma del que estoy amando

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Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Pronoun	Verb	Verb
la	ruta	de	el	alma	de	el	que	estoy	amando
the	route	of (indicates the subject or cause of the adjective)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	soul	of (indicates the subject or cause of the adjective)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	who; that	to be (have a (transient) location in space). Compare ser, quedar.	to love, have great affection for, care about
								1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb estar	Simple Gerund of the verb amar
The	route	of	the	soul	of	the	who	I am	loving

Aligned Translation: The route of the soul of the one I'm loving

Free Translation: The path of my loved one’s soul

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Original Lyrics: Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto

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Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Adverb
gracias	a	la	vida		que	mí	ha	dado	tanto
thanks	to	the	life		that	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	so much, long, hard, often, etc.
							3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
Thanks	to	the	life	,	that		it has	gave me	so much

Aligned Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

Free Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

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Line 17

Original Lyrics: Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados

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Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Adjective	Noun	Adjective
mí	ha	dado	la	marcha	de	mi	pie	cansado
me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	the	march	of (indicates the subject or cause of the adjective)	before the noun Apocopic form of mío, my	foot (of a person)	tired, sleepy
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
	It has	given me	the	march	of	my		tired feet

Aligned Translation: It has given me the gait of my tired feet

Free Translation: It gave me the stride of my tired feet

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Line 18

Original Lyrics: Con ellos, anduve ciudades y charcos

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Preposition	Pronoun		Verb	Noun	Conjunction	Noun
con	ellos		anduve	ciudad	y	charco
with	they, them (used subjectively and after prepositions; can refer to men, masculine nouns, groups of people or nouns of mixed gender, and (rarely) groups of neuter nouns).		to walk, to go	city	and	puddle
			1st Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb andar
With	them	,	I walked	cities	and	puddles

Aligned Translation: With them, I walked cities and puddles

Free Translation: With them I’ve walked cities and puddles

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Original Lyrics: Playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos

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Noun	Conjunction	Noun		Noun	Conjunction	Noun
playa	y	desierto		montaña	y	llano
beach	and	desert		mountain	and	plain (an open, grassy, mostly treeless land)

beaches	and	deserts	,	mountains	and	plains

Aligned Translation: Beaches and deserts, mountains and plains

Free Translation: Beaches and deserts, mountains and plains

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Original Lyrics: Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Adjective		Adjective	Noun	Conjunction	Adjective	Noun
y	la	casa	tuya		tuyo	calle	y	tuyo	patio
and	the	house	Feminine singular of tuyo		yours, your	street	and	yours, your	yard, patio

And	the	house	yours	,	your	street	and	your	yard

Aligned Translation: And your house, your street and your yard

Free Translation: And your house, your street, your backyard

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Line 21

Original Lyrics: Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto

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Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Adverb
gracias	a	la	vida		que	mí	ha	dado	tanto
thanks	to	the	life		that	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	so much, long, hard, often, etc.
							3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
Thanks	to	the	life	,	that		it has	gave me	so much

Aligned Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

Free Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

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Line 22

Original Lyrics: Me dio el corazón, que agita su marco

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Pronoun	Verb	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Verb	Adjective	Noun
mí	dio	el	corazón		que	agita	suyo	marco
me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	transitive to give, to give out	Masculine singular definite article; the.	anatomy heart (organ of the body)		that	to shake, to agitate, to churn, to churn up	His, hers, its, to her.	frame
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Preterite of the verb dar					3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb agitar
	It gave me	the	heart	,	that	shake	its	frame

Aligned Translation: It gave me the heart, which shakes its frame

Free Translation: It gave me this heart that shakes its frame

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Line 23

Original Lyrics: Cuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano

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Conjunction	Verb	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun	Adjective
cuando	miro	el	fruto	de	el	cerebro	humano
when	transitive to look at (to try to see, to pay attention to with one’s eyes)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	botany any fruit from a plant, whether sweet or not (like avocado or tomato), edible or not	of (indicates the subject or cause of the adjective)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	anatomy brain	human
	1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb mirar
When	I look	the	fruit	of	the		human brain

Aligned Translation: When I look at the fruit of the human brain

Free Translation: When I see the fruit of the human mind

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Line 24

Original Lyrics: Cuando miro el bueno tan lejos del malo

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Conjunction	Verb	Determiner	Adjective	Adverb	Adverb	Preposition	Determiner	Adjective
cuando	miro	el	bueno	tan	lejos	de	el	malo
when	transitive to look at (to try to see, to pay attention to with one’s eyes)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	good	so, as	far	of (indicates the subject or cause of the adjective)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	bad
	1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb mirar
When	I look	the	good	so	far	of	the	bad

Aligned Translation: When I look at the good so far from the bad

Free Translation: When I see good so far from evil

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Original Lyrics: Cuando miro el fondo de tus ojos claros

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Conjunction	Verb	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Adjective	Noun	Adjective
cuando	miro	el	fondo	de	tu	ojo	claro
when	transitive to look at (to try to see, to pay attention to with one’s eyes)	Masculine singular definite article; the.	bottom	of, from (indicating cause)	(before the noun) Apocopic form of tuyo, your	eye	clear
	1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb mirar
When	I look	the	bottom	of	your		clear eyes

Aligned Translation: When I look at the bottom of your clear eyes

Free Translation: When I see the depths of your clear eyes

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Line 26

Original Lyrics: Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto

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Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Adverb
gracias	a	la	vida		que	mí	ha	dado	tanto
thanks	to	the	life		that	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	so much, long, hard, often, etc.
							3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
Thanks	to	the	life	,	that		it has	gave me	so much

Aligned Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

Free Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

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Line 27

Original Lyrics: Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto

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Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Determiner	Noun	Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Determiner	Noun
mí	ha	dado	la	risa	y	mí	ha	dado	el	llanto
me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	the	laughter (movement of the face)	and	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	Masculine singular definite article; the.	crying
	3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar					3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
	It has	given me	the	laughter	and		it has	given me	the	crying

Aligned Translation: It has given me the laugh and it has given me the cry

Free Translation: It gave me laughter, it gave me weeping

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Original Lyrics: Así yo distingo dicha de quebranto

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Adverb	Pronoun	Verb	Noun	Preposition	Noun
así	yo	distingo	dicha	de	quebranto
like this; like that; as such; thus; so; thereby; this way, that way	(First-person singular pronoun in the nominative case); I.	to distinguish, discern	bliss	from (with the separation, exclusion or differentiation of)	An affliction or grief.
		1st Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb distinguir
Like this	I	distinguish	bliss	from	affliction

Aligned Translation: That's how I distinguish joy from brokenness

Free Translation: This is how I distinguish bliss from brokenness

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Line 29

Original Lyrics: Los dos materiales que forman mi canto

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Determiner	Numeral	Noun	Conjunction	Verb	Adjective	Noun
los	dos	material	que	forman	mío	canto
the	cardinal numbers two	material	that	transitive to form, to create	predicative or after the noun mine, my.	chant
				3rd Person Plural Indicative Present of the verb formar
The	two	material	that	form	my	chant

Aligned Translation: The two materials that make up my singing

Free Translation: The two materials that shape my singing

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Original Lyrics: Y el canto de ustedes que es el mismo canto

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Pronoun	Conjunction	Verb	Determiner	Adjective	Noun
y	el	canto	de	ustedes	que	es	el	mismo	canto
and	Masculine singular definite article; the.	chant	of (indicates the subject or cause of the adjective)	Latin America:Canary Islands Western Andalusia you (plural)	that	to be (essentially or identified as).	Masculine singular definite article; the.	same; identical; one and the same; (indicates that the two compared noun clauses both represent the one thing)	chant
						3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ser
And	the	chant	of	you	that	it is	the	same	chant

Aligned Translation: And the song of you that is the same song

Free Translation: And your song that’s the same song

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Original Lyrics: Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto

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Conjunction	Determiner	Noun	Preposition	Adjective	Conjunction	Verb	Adjective	Adjective	Noun
y	el	canto	de	todos	que	es	mío	propio	canto
and	Masculine singular definite article; the.	chant	of (indicates the subject or cause of the adjective)	Masculine plural of todo	that	to be (essentially or identified as).	predicative or after the noun mine, my.	own (belonging to)	chant
						3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb ser
And	the	chant	of	everyone	that	it is	my	own	chant

Aligned Translation: And everyone's song that is my own song

Free Translation: And everyone’s song that’s my own song

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Original Lyrics: Gracias a la vida, que me ha dado tanto

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Noun	Preposition	Determiner	Noun		Conjunction	Pronoun	Verb	Verb	Adverb
gracias	a	la	vida		que	mí	ha	dado	tanto
thanks	to	the	life		that	me; (declined form of yo used as the object of a preposition)	auxiliary verb taking past participle to build various perfect tenses to have	transitive to give, to give out	so much, long, hard, often, etc.
							3rd Person Singular Indicative Present of the verb haber	Pastparticiple Singular Masculine of the verb dar
Thanks	to	the	life	,	that		it has	gave me	so much

Aligned Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

Free Translation: Thanks to life, which has given me so much

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Review

1) Summary of the Story in the Lyrics

The lyrics are a profound ode to existence, where Violeta Parra thanks life ("Gracias a la vida") for sensory and emotional gifts—from the ability to perceive beauty ("dos luceros" distinguishing "lo negro del blanco") to the sounds of nature and industry ("grillos, canarios, turbinas"). The song crescendos with gratitude for love ("el hombre que yo amo"), framing even hardship as part of life’s sacred tapestry.

2) Emotional Impact & Storytelling Technique

Parra’s raw, tremulous vocals and sparse guitar accompaniment amplify the lyrics’ humility. Each stanza builds like a liturgical chant, cataloging blessings through visceral imagery ("voz tan tierna de mi bien amado"). The repetition of "Gracias a la vida" becomes a mantra, transforming personal gratitude into universal hymnody.

3) Themes & Tone

No explicit content. The song is a spiritual meditation on mortality and joy, with a tone of reverent wonder—both intimate and cosmic. Its bittersweet irony (written before Parra’s suicide) adds layers to its celebration.

4) Music Video Relation

As a 1966 composition, no official video exists, but archival performances (e.g., Violeta Parra’s 1965 TV clip) show her delivering it with Franciscan simplicity, eyes closed as if in prayer.

5) Verified Discussions

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracias_a_la_vida

[History, composition, and dissemination of the song]

https://music.apple.com/pt/artist/violeta-parra/303514

[Availability of the song on digital platforms]

https://vuelapalabra.com/gracias-a-la-vida-violeta-parra/

[Cultural context and legacy of the song]

6) Artist social media (legacy):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTSrQt10TpLzWexT_gC5Rcw

Submitted by user: ANAJOSE

Average Ratings

Most people find the song lyrics very easy to understand lyrics, lyrics sung very slowly and it has very easy to remember verbs and nouns

Most words used are in very common daily usage.^RAE

Gracias a la Vida has 91 BPM (beats per minute)

Gracias a la Vida is suitable for DELE Level students in terms of language complexity.

References

^RAE Based on a median word frequency of 24 using the frequency database from the Royal Spanish Academy (La Real Academia Española)

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