Qué Saco Rogar Al Cielo

Victor Jara's 'Qué Saco Rogar Al Cielo' is a poignant reflection on the struggles of the working class, particularly those who toil the land. The song opens with a rhetorical question, 'Qué saco rogar al cielo, si en tierra me han de enterrar,' which translates to 'What good is it to pray to heaven if they will bury me in the ground?' This line sets the tone for the song, emphasizing the futility of seeking divine intervention when earthly struggles are so immediate and pressing. Jara highlights the harsh reality that the earth, which provides sustenance, also demands labor and sweat, often without fair reward.

The lyrics continue to explore the theme of exploitation and disenfranchisement. 'Qué saco sudando tanto y comiendo poco y ná, si mi tierra no es mi tierra, y el cielo, cielo nomás,' translates to 'What good is sweating so much and eating so little if my land is not my land, and the sky is just sky?' This verse underscores the alienation felt by those who work the land but do not own it, a common plight among peasants and laborers. The sky, representing divine or governmental authority, offers no solace or solution to their earthly woes.

However, the song also carries a message of hope and collective action. The imagery of hands causing flowers to bloom, 'Adonde pongo mis manos brotan claveles y rosas,' symbolizes the potential for beauty and productivity inherent in human labor. The final lines, 'Una espiga hay en el campo, una espiga colorá, si juntos la cosechamos, grande será nuestro pan,' translate to 'There is a spike in the field, a red spike, if we harvest it together, our bread will be plentiful.' This suggests that through unity and collective effort, the working class can overcome their struggles and achieve a better future.