Bajo El Quinto Sol

Track art by Nora Guerrero

Previously released as a single in anticipation of the full album, this track manages to tell a complex story much like Lienzos while sticking to modern salsa and timba. It was written by lead vocalist Braden Astorga-Rollins for his future child and talks about growing up confident in a world that seems bound and determined to instill fear in its inhabitants.

Original Lyrics

‘Terra Nova’ que a mi niña dio luz,
A mi me muestra virtud
Con toda certitud.
No hay duda que,
Por los cuentos de su origen,
Las suposiciones se corrigen.
Y en las vueltas de este quinto sol,
Su alma se descubre.

Pero sigo insistiendo en tu alma,
Fuerte, brava y serena como una calma,
Que aquí nació de pólvora y piel.
Guerra dominante, la traicion sin fin,
Que sería la solución, a este ciclo.

Eres tú,
Tú mi niña, hija del nuevo y viejo mundo,
No traes cara de maltratada,
Y en tu sangre,
Existe el tumulto bien escondido,
Un asunto de que no te dirán.

(Pero bajo el quinto sol)
Siguen peleando tu gente,
con las armas desmembradas en el calor.
(Y bajo el quinto sol)
Ésta sí es tu tierra,
Bautizada con los nombres de tu captor.

(Y bajo el quinto sol)
Tierra Nueva que a mi niña dio luz,
(Soy yo, soy yo)
A mi me muestra su virtud,
(Quinto sol)
Mestizaje, la ley de la clase baja,
(Soy yo, soy yo)
Que bello pero no mejora nada.
(Quinto sol)
Nina, vas a encontrar que el mundo no te quiere,
(Soy yo, soy yo)
Hay que pelear con la fuerza de un cohete.

(Quedito estoy, mirandote a ti mi sol)
Quedito estoy, quedito estoy mirando mirandote a ti,
(Quedito estoy, mirandote a ti mi sol)
Con la sangre vieja y la cara joven, yo se que así se vencerá.
(Quedito estoy, mirandote a ti mi sol)
Y aunque la vida me cueste llorona, nunca dejaré de apoyarte.
(Quedito estoy, mirandote a ti mi sol)
El instante en que me llames, lo dejaré todo, lo dejaré todo y saldré a buscarte,
(Quedito estoy, mirandote a ti mi sol)
Siempre me tendrás a tu lado, a mi y a tu madre y a tus hermanos.
(Quedito estoy, mirandote a ti mi sol)
Quedito estoy, quedito estoy mirandote mi sol

Eres tú,
Tú mi niña, hija del nuevo y viejo mundo,
No traes cara de maltratada,
Y en tu sangre,
Existe el tumulto bien escondido,
Un asunto de que no te dirán.

Personnel

Braden Astorga-Rollins Lead Vocals
Allen Mendez Trumpet, Vocals
Josh Nuss Trombone, Vocals
Tom Hartnett Keyboard
Jorge Brito Bass
José María Piedra Bongó/Campana, Güiro
Felipe Fernández Congas
Michael McSweeney Drum Set, Timbales

English Translation

‘Terra Nova’ that gave birth to my daughter,
Shows me it’s virtue.
And it always rings true.
There’s no doubt that
Through the tales of its origin,
Every assumption is corrected.
And in the orbits of this fifth sun,
We discover its soul.

But I’ll keep insisting in your soul,
Strong, brave and serene like still waters,
That was born here from gunpowder and skin.
Terrible war, betrayal without end,
What could bring an end to this cycle?

It’s you,
My little girl, daughter of the old and new worlds,
Your face doesn’t look beaten down,
And in your blood
Exists the hidden turmoil,
Something you will never hear from them.

(But under the fifth sun)
Your people they keep fighting,
While their weapons fall apart from the heat.
(And under the fifth sun)
This really is your land,
Christened with the names of your oppressors.

(And under the fifth sun)
New World that gave birth to my daughter,
(I am, I am)
Shows me it’s virtue.
(Fifth sun)
Miscegenation, the reality of the lower class,
(I am, I am)
A beautiful thing but it doesn’t fix the problem.
(Fifth sun)
My child, you’ll find that the world doesn’t love you,
(I am, I am)
You’ll have to fight with all the strength of a rocket.

(Still I’m here, looking at you my sun)
Still I’m here, still I’m here looking at you,
(Still I’m here, looking at you my sun)
With old blood and a young face, I know you can never lose.
(Still I’m here, looking at you my sun)
And even when life brings me down, I will never stop pushing you up.
(Still I’m here, looking at you my sun)
The instant you call to me, I’ll leave it all behind and come find you wherever you are.
(Still I’m here, looking at you my sun)
I will always be by your side. Me, your mother and the rest of your siblings.
(Still I’m here, looking at you my sun)
Still I’m here, still I’m here looking at you my sun.

It’s you,
My little girl, daughter of the old and new worlds,
Your face doesn’t look beaten down,
And in your blood
Exists the hidden turmoil,
Something you will never hear from them.