Al Otro Lado del Río

This Spanish song from The Motorcycle Diaries is a personal favourite from mine. I do not know Spanish, but I find its tune haunting, and its lyrics sublime. I haven't seen this movie based on the autobigraphy of Che, in which he documents his transformation into a socialist revolutionary. I am not socialist myself (not even remotely), but I do believe in many of their humanist ideals. I also believe in this song, and its belief in there being light across the river one must row across. You can listen to the song below.

Al Otro Lado del Río

Clavo mi remo en el agua
llevo tu remo en el mío.
Creo que he vista una luz
al otro lado del río.
El día le irá pudiendo
poco a poco al frío.
Creo que he vista
una luz al otro lado del río.
Sobre todo, creo
que no todo está perdido.
Tanta lágrima, tanta lágrima,
y yo soy yn vaso vacío...
Oigo una voz que me llama,
casi un suspiro:
Rema, rema, rema!
En esta orilla del mundo
lo que nos es presa es baldio.
Creo que he visto una luz
al otro lado del río.
Yo, muy serio, voy remando,
y muy adentro, sonrío.
Creo que he visto
una luz al otro lado del río.

Jorge Drexler
(Diarios de motocicleta)

Diarios de Motocic...

[I plunge my oar in the water
I take your oar in mine.
I believe that I have seen a light
on the other side of the river.
The day will little by little turn cold.
I believe that I have seen a light
on the other side of the river.
Above all, I believe
that everything is not lost.
So many tears, so many tears,
and I am an empty glass...
I hear a voice that calls to me,
almost a sigh: It rows, it rows, it rows!
In this edge of the world
which has us imprisoned is useless.
I believe that I have seen a light
the other side of the river.
I, seriously, am rowing,
and inside, I smile.
I believe that I have seen a light
on the other side of the river.]