Lyrics for La Maza (Written by S. Rodríguez, Cuba)

Si no creyera en la locura / de la garganta del cirzonte
si no creyera que en el monte / se esconde el trino y la pavura.

Si no creyera en la balanza / en la razon del equilibrio
si no creyera en el delirio / si no creyera en la esperanza.

Si no creyera en lo que agencio / si no creyera en mi camino
si no creyera en mi sonido / si no creyera en mi silencio.

Que cosa fuera
Que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera
un amacijo hecho de cuerdas y tendones
un revoltijo de carne con madera
un instrumento sin mejores resplandores
que lucecitas montadas para escena
que cosa fuera -corazon- que cosa fuera
que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera
un testaferro del traidor de los aplausos
un servidor de pasado en copa nueva
un eternizador de dioses del ocaso
jubilo hervido con trapo y lentejuela
que cosa fuera -corazon- que cosa fuera
que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera
que cosa fuera -corazon- que cosa fuera
que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera.

Si no creyera en lo mas duro / si no creyera en el deseo
si no creyera en lo que creo / si no ceyera en algo puro.

Si no creyera en cada herida / si no creyera en la que ronde
si no creyera en lo que esconde / hacerse hermano de la vida.

Si no creyera en quien me escucha / si no creeyera en lo que duele
si no creyera en lo que queda / si no creyera en lo que lucha.

Que cosa fuera...

Translation: La Maza = The Stone Hammer (or Mallet)

This song is full of symbolism and open to interpretation thus it is best interpreted within its political/historical context. Que cosa fuera la maza sin cantera? - What would the stone hammer be without the quarry? What change can be had if the hammer doesn’t strike the stone? You have to believe that you make a change and strive/fight to make it happen. If not, then you are simply part of the problem.

If I did not believe in the madness / from the mockingbird’s throat
if I did not believe that in the hills / hides the trill and the dread

If I did not believe in balance / in the reason for equilibrium.
If I did not believe in delirium / If I did not believe in hope

If I did not believe in what I’ve wrought / If I did not believe in my path
If I did not believe in my sound / If I did not believe in my silence

And what can be said?
What can be said of the mallet without quarry?
Naught but a paste made with strings and tendons,
a jumble of flesh with wood.
A tool with no greater splendour
then that of lights mounted for the stage.
What can be said, oh my love, what can be said?
What can be said of the mallet without quarry?
A figurehead of the traitor of the applause,
a servant of the of the past
who is poured in a new cup.
A perpetuator of the gods of the dusk,
a boiled delight served in rags and sequins.
What can be said, oh my love, what can be said?
What can be said of the mallet without quarry?

If I did not believe in that which is hardest / If I did not believe in desire
If I did not hold to my beliefs / If I did not believe in something pure

If I did not believe in every wound / If I did not believe in the one that’s coming
If I did not believe in what is hidden / by making oneself life’s brother

If I did not believe in those who hear me / If I did not believe what hurts
If I did not believe in what is left / If I did not believe in what fights!

While living in South America we spent much of our free time playing music with friends, learning local standards and sharing songs that we loved. We were fascinated by the variety and quality of music that came from there, inspiring us to weave the melodies into our own style. A few years after returning to the States and pursuing our musical career, the Argentine legend Mercedes Sosa passed away, prompting us to release this EP in honor of the talented musicians of the era who fought for social justice and created some of the most amazing music of the period. Some of the songs on this record we first heard while in South America years ago but they have been dormant, while others we have included in regular rotation at our performances. Each song independently represents the significance of Nueva Canción: altruism, solidarity and respect for humanity.

Nueva Canción was a musically driven social movement that emerged during the late 1950's. Originating in Chile and Argentina, the Nueva Canción movement combined traditional folk music with socially and politically charged lyrics. Nueva Canción arrived during a period of great upheaval in South America. Many people who had become disenfranchised throughout all of Latin America ardently adopted this new style of music as their own; and as the political situation in many of these countries worsened, the Nueva Canción movement came to define people's resistance to the increasingly despotic tendencies of their respective nations. At the height of unrest several coups were staged installing military dictatorships where there were previously democracies. With the outlawing of the Nueva Canción movement, many musicians and activists were arrested, murdered or forced into exile. In spite of the political oppression, the movement continued to grow and develop with new artists using Nueva Canción as a means of affecting social change.