Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?

Subject: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 05:27 PM

It's a beautiful song. Should I ask for more?
I'm wondering about its composition.
Was it based on a death-journey from a myth? An exile's lament?
Maybe it just uses the symbolism.
I could make a few guesses of my own but I'm wondering about the actual intention of the author. The information on the net is swamped by tourist destinations, and such, using the name -- and by singers who've recorded the song - which is just about every singer of Mexican songs.

It's not in the DT so here it is:

La Barca de Oro

by Abundio Martinez (I think)

Yo ya me voy al puerto donde se halla
La Barca de Oro que debe conducirme
Yo ya me voy; solo vengo a despedirme,
Adios, mujer, adios, para siempre adios

No volveran tus ojos a mirarme,
Ni tus oidos escucharan mi canto
Voy a aumentar los mares con mi llanto,
Adios, mujer, adios, para siempre adios.

It's about leaving - alone - in a golden boat - never to return. He says goodbye to his woman and says he will increase the depth of the ocean with his tears.

That's it. It's brief and so, so sad. It's what True-love calls achingly beautiful. If that's all I get then it's OK. But I'm wondering about this old friend of a song.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 05:37 PM

Page with words and chords.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 05:53 PM

Thanks, Peace.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:11 PM

Youtube--done by choir

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:28 PM

How will they all fit in one golden boat. How can they all be alone? I so dislike choir versions of songs like this. Two voices absolute maximum for this one, I reckon. I sing the harmony with True-love but it's like an echo and like he's leaving me behind.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:30 PM

The notion of a boat 'taking one away' is all over music in lotsa languages and cultures.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:38 PM

Yes I know but this one is gold. Granted that doesn't narrow things down much.

But -- Ah! Ha! I found mention of a film called "Las Abandonadas" that seems to have included this song.
Off the the Internet Movie Data Base.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:41 PM

I saw that but am not sure it's the same song.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:50 PM

Alone again with Peace. What a nice image.

Well - The movie was made in 1945 staring Delores del Rio. Made in Spanish. No mention of the song and the music - the original songs anyway, were not by Abundio Martinez. Could well be included as "traditional" though.

The plot is about misery and abandonment - for what it's worth.
Have to wait until movie-buff True-Love wakes up.
Cheers Joy with Peace

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 06:53 PM

LOL

What I'm gonna do is go at this via the author's name. Might get something that way.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:00 PM

He's buried in a lot of useless info. too - but good luck Peace. Do you suppose we're the only people left here?
Where is everyone?

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:03 PM

I have that effect on some Mudcatters. Howeveer, CET just started a thread in which, according to Johnny Cash, Delia's Gone, too.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 07:16 PM

I saw you'd called in there. Scattering Peace around.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 09:00 PM

Abundio Martinez was a Mexican Otomi Indian, 1875-1914. Musician, and composer of more than 200 works. Died of tuberculosis, in poverty.
Peace, I knew of this song, but I didn't know the composer's name, thus thought the requested song was a new one. I know nothing of its meaning.
http://redescolar.ilce.edu.mx/redescolar/publicaciones/publi_quepaso/abundiomartinez.htm
Martinez

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 09:27 PM

Thank you Q. It's so good to find out about Matinez. Sad that he seems to be so well-hidden among all the recent singers who claim this song.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 09:36 PM

Good one, Q. Thank you very much.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 09:38 PM

Luckily I've got a translater here. The article refers to broader influences on Martinez - beyond Mexico that is. I wondered about the sea-going images he uses. The idea of a death voyage on the sea seems to belong more to other cultures. My first thought was Ancient Egypt - but there's lots of others. Mexico is not an obvious one.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 11:01 PM

Sea Burial is an old Hawai'ian custom.
Arrange your sea burial here: Sea Burial Company

I think the custom is widespread among coastal and island people.

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 07 - 11:05 PM

Sorry about that-
www.hawaiianseaburialcompany.com

Sea Burial

Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell
Date: 11 Feb 07 - 05:33 AM

Yes that's true but not in Mexico.
I came upon a site that had him arranging this song from an older source. Hmmmm.