Text for Guevara Died

Text by Ahmed Fu'ad Negm, music by Shaykh Imam

(maqam saba)

Guevara has died, Guevara has died

Late-breaking news, all the radios cried

And in the churches

And the mosques

In the alleys

And the streets

In cafes and the bars:

Guevara has died

Guevara has died

Voices ply endless ropes of speech...

Paragon of fighters, now dead and gone

Aah, sign a hundred for the loss of men!

In thickets deep the young swain perished

still atop his firing gun

Dead and giving body to his fight

He did it all in silence

No drummers explode in ragged sound

No communique goes sailing round

What do you think (your wealth and might live long!),

You antique and twisted gnomes?

Your bodies oozing, fed so well

On tasty morsels and trappings

You, sitting comfy, cozily warm

Tho' firing up your heaters still:

Garish showy dopes

With your polished nodding pates...