Anacaona – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Cheo Feliciano
• Album: Cheo

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the rich history and powerful narrative of 'Anacaona' by Cheo Feliciano. This iconic salsa song, infused with cultural and historical significance, offers a compelling glimpse into the indigenous resistance against colonization, allowing listeners to connect with a pivotal moment in Caribbean history through vibrant music and poignant lyrics.

[English]

Anacaona, a captive indigenous woman

Anacaona, from the primitive region

Anacaona, a captive indigenous woman

Anacaona, from the primitive region

Anacaona, I hear your voice

How she cried, how she moaned

Anacaona, I hear your voice

From your troubled heart

Your freedom never came, ne ne ne ne ne na na

Anacaona, a captive indigenous woman

Anacaona, from the primitive region

Anacaona, indigenous, indigenous of a captive race

Oh Anacaona, from the primitive region

Anacaona, song of Anacaona

Indigenous woman of a captive race

Soul of a white dove, Anacaona

Anacaona, song of Anacaona

But a native woman who dies crying

She dies but she doesn't forgive, she doesn't forgive, no

Anacaona, song of Anacaona

That black woman of noble and sorrowful race

But she was brave, Anacaona

Anacaona, song of Anacaona

Anacaona, song of Anacaona

Hey, as history tells it

They say she went to the cannon, Anacaona

Anacaona, song of Anacaona

The whole tribe mourns her

Because she was a good black woman, Anacaona

Anacaona, song of Anacaona

And remembering, remembering what happened

The tribe, the tribe is already angry

Anacaona, song of Anacaona

...

[Spanish]

Anacaona, india de raza cautiva

Anacaona, de la región primitiva

Anacaona, india de raza cautiva

Anacaona, de la región primitiva

Anacaona, oí tu voz

Cómo lloró, cuánto gimió

Anacaona, oí la voz

De tu angustiado corazón

Tu libertad nunca llegó, ne ne ne ne ne na na

Anacaona, india de raza cautiva

Anacaona, de la región primitiva

Anacaona, india, india de raza cautiva

Ay Anacaona, de la región primitiva

Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

India de raza cautiva

Alma de blanca paloma, Anacaona

Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

Pero india que muere llorando

Muere pero no perdona, no perdona, no

Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

Esa negra que es de raza noble y abatida

Pero que fue valentona, Anacaona

Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

Oye, según la historia lo cuenta

Dicen que fue a la cañona Anacaona

Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

La tribu entera la llora

Porque fue buena negrona, Anacaona

Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

Y recordando, recordando lo que pasó

La tribu, la tribu ya se enfogona

Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Anacaona /a.na.ka.o.na/ B2	noun - a historical figure, a Taino chiefess
india /ˈɪn.di.ə/ A2	noun - a female indigenous person
raza /ˈrɑː.zə/ B1	noun - race or ethnic group
libertad /liˈbɛr.tad/ B1	noun - freedom or liberty
corazón /ko.ɾaˈθon/ A2	noun - heart
llorar /ʝoˈɾaɾ/ A1	verb - to cry
gimiendo /xiˈmjendo/ B2	verb - groaning or moaning
alma /ˈalma/ B1	noun - soul
buena /ˈbwe.na/ A2	adjective - good
valentona /ba.lenˈtona/ B2	adjective - brave or courageous
tribu /ˈtɾi.βu/ A2	noun - tribe
historia /isˈto.ɾja/ A2	noun - history or story
cañona /kaˈɲona/ B2	noun - canyon or gorge

Key Grammar Structures

• Tu libertad nunca llegó

  ➔ Negation with 'nunca' to express 'never'

  ➔ 'Nunca' is used to make a negative statement meaning 'never'.

• De la región primitiva

  ➔ Prepositional phrase indicating origin/location using 'de la'

  ➔ 'De la' indicates origin or location related to 'la región primitiva'.

• Oí tu voz

  ➔ Use of the verb 'oír' in the past tense 'oí' with direct object 'tu voz'

  ➔ 'Oír' means 'to hear', and 'oí' is its simple past tense form, with 'tu voz' as the direct object.

• Pero india que muere llorando

  ➔ Relative clause with 'que' to specify 'india' and present continuous verb 'muere llorando'

  ➔ 'Que' introduces a relative clause describing 'india', and 'muere llorando' is a present tense phrase meaning 'dies crying'.

• Anacaona, areito de Anacaona

  ➔ Use of the noun phrase 'areito de Anacaona' indicating a cultural activity or song associated with Anacaona

  ➔ This noun phrase signifies a traditional cultural song or ceremony associated with Anacaona.