Starless Night in 73

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This is one of twelve music videos from the album, "Gallery: escenas del viaje." The album is about my friend Giovanny Padilla Mojica and the ways our lives have intersected, including Giovanny's migrant journey to the US. We sang this song on my 60th birthday, when Giovanny had just crossed into Costa Rica on his way north. The song describes a starless night in 1973 when Giovanny was taken from his childhood home, when my Chilean coworker had to flee the military coup, and when I was experiencing my first adolescent breakup. 

Este es uno de doce videos de música del album, "Gallery: escenas del viaje." El album habla de mi amigo Giovanny Padilla Mojica y el cruce de nuestras vidas, incluyendo el viaje de inmigración de Giovanny a los EE UU. Cantamos esta canción en mi cumpleaños número 60, cuando Giovanny había cruzado la frontera con Costa Rica en su camino al norte. La canción habla de la noche sin estrellas en el año 1973 cuando lo sacaron al niño Giovanny de su hogar, cuando mi compañera chilena tuvo que huirse del golpe de estado, y cuando yo sufría mi primer rompimiento como adolescente.

STARLESS NIGHT IN 73

When I was six years old the tables started turning---curtains rose and doors all opened wide

the last ones first, those who were yearning---sitting at the table drinking wine

my father was a server at the table---red bandana wrapped around his sleeve

but the banquet guests, they all scattered---starless night in seventy-three

and I knew nothing ‘fore I met you---never can forget you

I was broken but I did not bleed---‘cause you were smashing every platter

leaving everything in tatters---starless night in seventy-three

Dust rose up like clouds the night she took me---bright-colored woman by the well

like a dream that blew across the desert---stirring up a storm I couldn’t quell

I was only four but still I remember---the way those brown arms rose up from her sleeves

we were trading Marlboro for marimba---starless night in seventy-three

and I knew nothing ‘fore I met you --- never can forget you

I was broken but I did not bleed---'cause when my family was scattered

It left everything in tatters---starless night in seventy-three

Abre la ventana las estrellas te entregan su luz

El cielo despejado las estrellas te entregan su luz

Todavía recuerdo esa noche, pero a pesar de lo difícil y doloroso,

siempre había una luz en mi camino, como la luz de las estrellas

detrás de las nubes, brillando en la noche, aún cuando no las podemos ver

I didn’t know a thing about Allende---I’d never heard about the CIA

I was hunting crawdads and four-leaf clovers---all I knew about was Tennessee

I remember the first night I met her---her golden hands were reaching out to me

her smoke rings lifted me to heaven---starless night in seventy-three

and I knew nothing ‘fore I met you---never can forget you

I was broken but I did not bleed---'cause when you stole my heart it shattered

leaving everything in tatters---starless night in seventy-three