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Origins: Viva Panama
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Origins: Viva Panama |
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Subject: ADD: Viva Panama From: GUEST,Justin Vogel Date: 03 Feb 26 - 08:52 AM I was wondering whether anyone might have any information about an old, humorous little song about the Panama Canal. My father, who was born and raised in Miami, FL, frequently sang it to my siblings and I when we were children, and claims he learned it in elementary school (this would have been in the late 1950s/early 1960s). I sing it with my children now, and they enjoy it. I've never been able to find any information about the song until recently, when I found a post on a discussion board with some of the lyrics, saying that it was heard as part of a BBC radio program called "Singing Together" (which I had never heard of). Further searching led me to this site, and a post stating that the song was included as part of the program in 1990, 1993, and 1996 (https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=154766) The lyrics, as I know them, are as follows: VIVA PANAMA I went to town to sell my pig the morning after Christmas They gave me a pick and told me to dig a ditch across the isthmus. (Chorus) Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! Qué viva viva viva via - Panama! Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! We dug and we dug, the dirt just flew The digging was terrific We dug a canal to join the blue Atlantic and Pacific (Chorus) Now I sit beneath the trees and watch the ocean liners Float through the canal from sea to sea from sunny Spain to Chiners (Chorus) I would love to know where the song came from, and check whether the lyrics and melody that father has passed down to us are correct (he isn't musically inclined, and I'm pretty sure this is the only song he has memorized!). Any information would be most appreciated! |
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Subject: ADD Version: Viva Panama From: Joe Offer Date: 03 Feb 26 - 04:29 PM VIVA PANAMA Words by Margaret Marks, music collected by Agnes Dixon I came into town to sell my pig The morning after Christmas They gave me a spade and said to dig A ditch across the Isthmus. CHORUS Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! Qué viva viva viva viva - Panama! Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! I dug and I dug, the dirt just flew The digging was terrific! I dug a canal that joined the blue Atlantic and Pacific. CHORUS And now in the shade beneath a tree, I watch each ocean liner Go through the canal from sea to sea From sunny Spain to China. CHORUS Source: Music in our Country, Silver Burdett fifth grade songbook, 1956, pp. 150-151. email me if you need a scan of the music notation. joe@mudcat.org This melody sounds about right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1fV5_JybUY |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Viva Panama From: GUEST,Justin Vogel Date: 04 Feb 26 - 09:25 AM Wow, a decades-long mystery solved just like that - thank you so much! I would love a scan of the notation, I will send you an email! |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Viva Panama From: Nigel Parsons Date: 04 Feb 26 - 04:10 PM Also available from 'Singing Together' |
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Subject: ADD Version: Viva Panama From: Joe Offer Date: 04 Feb 26 - 06:45 PM VIVA PANAMA (Traditional Panamanian) I came into town to sell my pig The morning after Christmas They gave me a spade and said to dig A ditch across the Isthmus. CHORUS Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! Qué viva viva viva viva - Panama! Qué viva - ¡viva Panama! I dug and I dug, the dirt just flew The digging was terrific! I dug a canal that joined the blue Atlantic and Pacific. CHORUS There is no third verse, but the lyrics are the same as the first two verses in the Silver Burdett version above. Source: BBC School Radio Singing Together, Spring 1990, page 26. Thanks, Nigel. Download here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1tSMbnca5DeLUst9nnxkmWWhoHguSFtOO?usp=sharing |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Viva Panama From: Nigel Parsons Date: 04 Feb 26 - 07:08 PM Joe: No source given on the page other than 'Traditional Panamanian'. Back cover does appear to give sources of other songs in the booklet where it believes they are required, but not this song. First two verses only. image of song here Image of back cover |
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Subject: ADD Version: Panama From: Joe Offer Date: 04 Feb 26 - 07:31 PM I haven't found a Spanish version of the song that talks about the big and Christmas and digging the Isthmus, but I did find this. PANAMA (from a recording by Los Alegres Colombinos) Panamá, tierra querida, yo te canto con amor Porque tú eres tierra mía, reina de mi corazón Panamá, tierra querida, yo te canto con amor Porque tú eres tierra mía, reina de mi corazón Ay, que viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Ay, que viva, viva, viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Mi marido se murió y el diablo se lo llevó Y allá me estará pagando las palizas que me dio Mi marido se murió y el diablo se lo llevó Y allá me estará pagando las palizas que me dio Ay, que viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Ay, que viva, viva, viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Cuando me fui de mi tierra, yo siempre te recordaba Y en mi corazón te llevo, Panamá, tierra adorada Cuando me fui de mi tierra, yo siempre te recordaba Y en mi corazón te llevo, Panamá, tierra adorada Ay, que viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Ay, que viva, viva, viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Me voy a vestir de luto con mi bata colorada Porque se ha muerto mi suegra, esa vieja condenada Me voy a vestir de luto con mi bata colorada Porque se ha muerto mi suegra, esa vieja condenada Ay, que viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Ay, que viva, viva, viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Ay, que viva, viva, viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Ay, que viva, viva, viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Ay, que viva, viva, viva, viva Panamá Y ahora, viva Panamá Written by: D.A.R. Google translation: Panama, beloved land, I sing to you with love Because you are my land, queen of my heart Panama, beloved land, I sing to you with love Because you are my land, queen of my heart Oh, long live, long live Panama And now, long live Panama Oh, long live, long live, long live, long live Panama And now, long live Panama My husband died and the devil took him And there he'll be paying me for the beatings he gave me My husband died and the devil took him And there he'll be paying me for the beatings he gave me (CHORUS) When I left my homeland, I always remembered you, and I carry you in my heart, Panama, beloved land. When I left my homeland, I always remembered you, And I carry you in my heart, Panama, beloved land. (CHORUS) I'm going to dress in mourning, in my red gown, Because my mother-in-law has died, that damned old woman. I'm going to dress in mourning, in my red gown, Because my mother-in-law has died, that damned old woman. (CHORUS) Source: https://www.shazam.com/song/1425097423/panamc3a1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6_70RVtuMU |
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