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

10 Feb 07 - 05:27 PM (#1963460)
Subject: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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


10 Feb 07 - 05:37 PM (#1963469)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace

Page with words and chords.


10 Feb 07 - 05:53 PM (#1963479)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

Thanks, Peace.


10 Feb 07 - 06:11 PM (#1963489)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace

Youtube--done by choir


10 Feb 07 - 06:28 PM (#1963500)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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


10 Feb 07 - 06:30 PM (#1963510)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace

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


10 Feb 07 - 06:38 PM (#1963520)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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.


10 Feb 07 - 06:41 PM (#1963527)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace

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


10 Feb 07 - 06:50 PM (#1963542)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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


10 Feb 07 - 06:53 PM (#1963544)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace

LOL

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


10 Feb 07 - 07:00 PM (#1963550)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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?


10 Feb 07 - 07:03 PM (#1963554)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace

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


10 Feb 07 - 07:16 PM (#1963567)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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


10 Feb 07 - 09:00 PM (#1963620)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

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


10 Feb 07 - 09:27 PM (#1963634)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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


10 Feb 07 - 09:36 PM (#1963639)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Peace

Good one, Q. Thank you very much.


10 Feb 07 - 09:38 PM (#1963643)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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


10 Feb 07 - 11:01 PM (#1963674)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

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.


10 Feb 07 - 11:05 PM (#1963678)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Sorry about that-
www.hawaiianseaburialcompany.com

Sea Burial


11 Feb 07 - 05:33 AM (#1963806)
Subject: RE: Folklore: La Barca de Oro - more to the images?
From: Joybell

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