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09/20/09
Roses in the Ocean
Filed under: ~~ English
Posted by: T.Bevin @ 5:44 pm

20, September, 2009

Back in 1966, when I was only 16 years old, I went to work in the Cuban fields with my school, like the year before, and the two years after.  We were picking sweet potatoes and cleaning fields of rocks for future planting.  There were two large buildings full of bunk beds, with dirt floors.  The outhouses were nearby, as were some deficient showers, and a round space with a thatched roof.  That was the space where “political orientation” took place.  Some nights we were allowed to put together “shows” that had nothing to do with political indoctrination.  One night we received the visit from some high officer of some ministry or another.  We were supposed to entertain him with some music.  Among the students we had some talent.  Several of the boys played the guitar, the drums, and sang.  I was one of the girls who sang. 

That night one of the songs that I sang was “Rosas en el Mar” (Roses in the Ocean) by the Spanish author Luis Eduardo Aute.  When I was in the middle of the song, and all the other youngsters were singing the chorus with me, the high officer stood up and motioned to me to stop.  We stopped.  He told us “You cannot sing that song.”  So we sang something else.   I had completely forgotten that ridiculous episode until today, when I watched the Peace Concert from Havana through the internet.  Luis Eduardo Aute was there, and he sang this song that he wrote in the early sixties and one that was made popular by the Spanish singer Massiel. 

Why was I stopped from singing that song?  Because of one verse that says:

Freedom, freedom, it is a right of all human beings,
But it is easier to find roses in the ocean.

Once the officer was gone, the principal of the school, who was in the militia and a member of the communist party called me outside.  I thought I would be expelled, or she would call for “disciplinary action.”  Instead, this good woman told me “The comrade is doing what he must.  That song can be considered explosive in our present environment.  I know you had no intention to offend anyone.  Just don’t sing it again.  Not here.”

Today, watching Aute sing his old song, I was reminded of how long our road has been, and how this concert is giving the Cuban people hope.

If curious, you call all find the lyrics to “Rosas en el Mar” all over the web.

3 Responses to “Roses in the Ocean”

  1. Roberta Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 7:18 am Wow - such deep and painful wounds - to have to think of every lyric before singing and worry how it could be thought of…
  2. Carla Says:
    October 2nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm I think that song would be hard for me to hear. I live in a county where freedom is a part of our very culture. I cannot imagine it otherwise. Some day, I hope to travel to Cuba. I would like to know more about it’s culture, it’s beauty. I read in this site: http://www.havana-guide.com about the city of Havana and think it would be a great place to start my exploration of the country.
  3. maykel de la torre castro Says:
    October 7th, 2009 at 5:08 pm estrano y yoro por mi tierra

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