Penpalling & Letters

Tuesday 9 November 2010

Who was sending her a small bunch of violets every 9th of November?



She was happy in her marriage,
even if her husband was the very same devil
The man had a bit of a bad temper
and she was complaining he never was very affectionate

For longer than three years now
she receives letters from a stranger
Letters full of poetry
which have brought her happiness back

Who was writing verses to her? Tell me who was he...
Who was sending flowers to her in spring?
Who was sending her, every 9th of November,
as always, withouth a card, a small bunch of violets?

Sometimes she dreams and imagines
how this person who steems her so much will be
Would he be a man with grey hair
open smile and showing tenderness in his hands?

She doesn't know who is he, she suffers in silence
Who could be her secret love?
And she's living like this day after day,
with the illusion of being loved

Who was writing verses to her? Tell me who was he...
Who was sending flowers to her in spring?
Who was sending her, every 9th of November,
as always, withouth a card, a small bunch of violets?

And every evening, when his husband was back
tired of working, he looks at her out of the corner of his eye
He does not say anything because he does know everything
He knows she is happy this way

Because he is the one who writes verses to her
he is her lover, her secret love
And she, that does not know anything,
looks at her husband and remains in silence

Who was writing verses to her? Tell me who was he...
Who was sending flowers to her in spring?
Who was sending her, every 9th of November,
as always, withouth a card, a small bunch of violets?


Hope you enjoyed listening to this song "Un ramito de violetas" (A small bunch of violets). The lyrics are in Spanish but tried to do a translation to English so you could get an idea what it is about. Cecilia is the author of this touching song. She was a Spanish singer and songwriter whose real name was Evangelina Sobredo Galanes. She actually took her stage name from the song "Cecilia" by Simon and Garfunkel.

Cecilia was born in Madrid, but being the daughter of diplomats, spent her childhood in several countries. She got a Bachelor degree in Law before deciding to dedicate herself to music and composition. Her ironic and lyrical songs contributed to the existentialist and feminist movements of Spanish "canción protesta" ("protest songs") of the 1960s and 1970s.

She represented Spain in the OTI Festival in 1975 with the song "Amor de Medianoche" ("Love of Midnight"). Sadly, she died in a road accident when she was only 27. After her death there have been posthumous compilations and a re-edition of her songs sung by famous artists.

I have always enjoyed listening to this song as well as to "Dama, dama" ("Lady, lady") and "Mi querida España" ("My dear Spain"). I thought that today it is the perfect date to present this song; a song which also speaks about letters...

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