Tuesday, 11 April 2017

Gratitude 30

I am grateful for good coffee.  Before you continue reading, please click this link for the soundtrack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIxIBwmFPMM

and be sure to ignore the dumb ad.

I am enjoying a cup of Cuban fair trade and organic, recently reprised by my favourite coffee provider, Bean Around the World, Shannon Station, W. 57th and E. Boulevard, Vancouver.  (You're welcome, John!)

Fair Trade is very important to me.  I can't always support it, because I live on a low income, but with my shopping preferences in coffee and cocoa I am happy to do my little bit to contribute to a better and more just quality of life for those who harvest and manufacture the products that we take for granted here in the North.  And, contrary to popular myth, fair trade does not have to compromise on flavour and quality.  This coffee is delicious, full bodied, smoky, dark, sensuous.  You are listening to Celia Cruz, by the way, a Cuban American singer who died in 2003 at the age of 77.  I think La vida es un carnaval was her last major hit, but I am no expert.  I first heard it in the year 2000 on a Spanish language radio program as I was beginning to really learn Spanish.  To call this song infectious would be an understatement.  Here are the lyrics in Spanish and in (my own) English translation:

Todo aquel
Que piense que la vida es desigual
Tiene que saber que no es así
Que la vida es una hermosura
Hay que vivirla
Todo aquel
Que piense que está solo y que está mal
Tiene que saber que no es así
Que en la vida no hay nadie solo
Siempre hay alguien
Ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es un carnaval
Que es más bello vivir cantando
Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es una carnaval
Y las penas se van cantando
Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es un carnaval
Que es más bello vivir cantando
Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es un carnaval
Y las penas se van cantado
Todo aquel
Que piense que la vida siempre es cruel
Tiene que saber que no es así
Que tan solo hay momentos malos
Y todo pasa
Todo aquel
Que piense que esto nunca va cambiar
Tiene que saber que no es así
Que al mal tiempo, buena cara
Y todo cambia
Ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es un carnaval
Que es más bello vivir cantando
Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es una carnaval
Y las penas se van cantando
Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es un carnaval
Que es más bello vivir cantando
Oh oh oh ay, no hay que llorar (No hay que llorar)
Que la vida es un carnaval
Y las penas se van cantado
(Carnaval) es para reír
(No hay que llorar) para gozar
(Carnaval) para disfrutar
(Hay que vivir cantando)
(Carnaval) la vida es un carnaval
(No hay que llorar) todos podemos cantar
(Carnaval) ay señores
(Hay que vivir cantando)
(Carnaval) todo aquel que piense
(No hay que llorar) que la vida es cruel
(Carnaval) nunca estará solo
(Hay que vivir cantando) Dios está con él
Para aquellos que se quejan tanto (bua)
Para aquellos que solo critican (bua)
Para aquellos que usan las armas (bua)
Para aquellos que nos contaminen (bua)
Para aquellos que hacen la guerra (bua)
Para aquellos que viven pecando (bua)
Para aquellos que nos maltratan (bua)
Para aquellos que nos contagian (bua)

Everyone who thinks that life is unfair,
Should know that this is not true,
that life is full of beauty and has to be lived
Everyone who thinks they're alone and unwanted
Should know that this is not true,
No one is alone in life, there is always someone there
No need to cry
Life is a carnival
We can sing away the pain
No need to cry, life is a carnival
It's more beautiful to live it singing
It's meant for laughter
Joy and enjoyment
If we think that life is cruel, we don't have to be alone
God is still with us

For the complainers: Bah!
For the critics: Bah!
For those who fire weapons: Bah!
For those who corrupt us: Bah!
For those who wage war: Bah!
For those who live selfishly: Bah!
For those who mistreat us: Bah!
For those who infect us with their bad attitudes: Bah!

Read more: Celia Cruz - La Vida Es Un Carnaval Lyrics | MetroLyrics

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