The song “Guantanamera” is such an omnipresent timeless classic tune that the mere mention of it immediately recalls its irresistible groove in anyone. But Guantanamo is now a name draped in an infamy that may well become just as famous as the song. So since a couple of years, every time I think about that song I can’t help but associate the concepts.

Now I want you to associate them too ! Every time you hear that song I want you to think about all the losers imprisoned in Camp X-ray without cause. Think about how arbitrary arrest, indefinite detention without trial, extraordinary rendition and suspension of habeas corpus are actually sapping at the foundation of the very freedom that our democracies are supposed to uphold.

Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la palma
Y antes de morirme quiero
Echar mis versos del alma

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera (..)

 I am a sincere man
From where the palm tree grows
And before dying I want
To let out the verses of my soul

Peasant girl from Guantanamo (..)
Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmín encendido
Mi verso es un ciervo herido
Que busca en el monte amparo

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera (..)

 My verse is light green
And it is flaming red
My verse is a wounded stag
Who seeks refuge on the mountain

Peasant girl from Guantanamo (..)
Cultivo una rosa blanca
En julio como en enero
Para el amigo sincero
Que me da su mano franca

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera (..)

 I grow a white rose
In July just as in January
For the honest friend
Who gives me his open hand

Peasant girl from Guantanamo (..)
Con los pobres de la tierra
Quiero yo mi suerte echar
El arroyo de la sierra
Me complace más que el mar

Guantanamera, guajira Guantanamera (..)

 With the poor people of the earth
I want to cast my lot
The brook of the mountains
Gives me more pleasure than the sea

Peasant girl from Guantanamo (..)

When I started writing this post five minutes ago, I thought I was the only one to have thought of using that song as a symbol… But as usual in the global memetic ocean, like-minded individuals exposed to the same set of stimuli will produce the same response – so much for my delusion of being creative… Shortly after starting researching some context for this article I stumbled about the most unlikely like-minded individual : Richard Stallman the Free Software pionneer and undefatiguable advocate !

Richard Stallman even went a step further by writing new lyrics for the tune and recorded it with amateur Cuban musicians. So pass the mike to Sir Richard !

Me odiaba mi primo
Por celos a mi carrera.
Lo arrestaron y dijo
Que terrorista yo era.

Guantanamero, soy preso guantanamero. (..]

 My cousin hated me;
He was jealous of my career.
They arrested him and he said
I was a terrorist.

Guantanaman, I’m a Guantanaman prisoner. (..)
Ha decidido el imperio
Tenerme por siempre preso
Y la cuestión es hacerlo
Con o sin falso proceso.

Guantanamero, soy preso guantanamero. (..]

 The empire has decided
To keep me in prison forever.
The question is whether to do it
With or without a fake trial.

Guantanaman, I’m a Guantanaman prisoner. (..)
Cuando me hieren el cuerpo,
Dicen que no me torturan.
Causan heridas profundas
De esas que nunca se curan.

Guantanamero, soy preso guantanamero. (..]

 When they injure my body
They say they are not torturing me.
They cause me grave wounds
Such as never heal.

Guantanaman, I’m a Guantanaman prisoner. (..)
No me permiten que duerma:
Mi fin no es un misterio.
Voy a salir cuando muera
O caiga el gran imperio.

Guantanamero, soy preso guantanamero. (..]

 They don’t let me sleep:
My end is no mystery.
I will get out when I die
Or the great empire falls.

Guantanaman, I’m a Guantanaman prisoner. (..)