Carlos Varela officially premieres "The Yawn of Waiting"

August 3, 2019

The troubadour Carlos Varela, a cardinal figure in the history of Cuban song, officially premiered the song "The Yawn of Waiting", belonging to his upcoming album The Silent Scream.

"The Yawn..." is the first song recorded by Varela for his ninth album and featured the collaboration of Rodney Barreto on drums, Julio César Gonzáles on bass, and Héctor Téllez Jr. on vocals.

"I composed it 2 years ago and it's one of those songs in which one digs through the years of childhood and remembers values that we once had and that we lost over the years. It's a sweet song and at the same time heartbreaking", the musician told OnCuba from Spain.

For Varela, author of classics like "Memorias" and "Leñador sin bosque", the song has a profound spiritual connotation and delves into the human dramas that have defined Cuba's course.

"Poetically philosophical it reflects on whether it's better to doubt, believe or look back. On how it's possible to be born on an island and then live with blindfolded eyes turning your back to the sea", he explains.

The Silent Scream is an album that brings back the Varela who ventures from an elevated poetic symbolism into the most intimate and sometimes painful areas of life anywhere in the world and, in particular, of Cuban society and family. Several of his songs, by their lyrics and arrangements, refer back to Como los peces, an album that served as a support for an entire generation and of which the 25th anniversary of its publication is being celebrated this 2019.

"I believe that separation, apathy, fear, abandonment, disillusionment and lack of faith sank into the souls of so many Cubans who today live in silence and contaminated with the yawn of waiting", explains the troubadour in reference to this song in which he has invested a great dose of faith.

"Who will ask for forgiveness one day from all those people whose lives have gone by without being able to see their loved ones ever again?", the musician then asks himself.

The new album breaks the recording silence of the singer-songwriter and treasures 14 songs with universal themes, centered on the human being.

"All the songs on the album deal with universal themes, but 'The Yawn of Waiting' is the one that moves closest to the problems, life and history of Cubans", he comments.

Varela is currently in Madrid to celebrate a concert for the 25th anniversary of Como los peces, with the original musicians who recorded this emblematic album and who have lived in the Iberian country for decades.

"I would love to celebrate a concert like this for the 25th of Como los peces also in Cuba, but I don't have dates yet", he comments.

The Silent Scream will hit the market in October and has been considered by the troubadour as his best album to date. "The Yawn of Waiting", one of the highly anticipated singles from the album, features cover art by painter Ernesto Rancaño and moves within the codes of blues.

THE YAWN OF WAITING, FEAR AND CROWN OF FLOWERS
(Lyrics and music: Carlos Varela, 2017)

I want to believe, before I doubt
and run, run, run
without looking back.
No power will ever
come to ask us for forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness
for never seeing each other again.

I was happy
barefoot among the cyclones
when we had nothing
songs were enough.
Yesterday I went out
and I only saw on the balconies
the yawn of waiting,
the fear
and crown of flowers.

How to be born on the shores of the sea
and not be able to touch the horizon ever
and see that there's something beyond?
Whether you're here or there
doesn't make you less or more
only love is all that's left,
the God that can save us.

I was happy
barefoot among the cyclones
when we had nothing
songs were enough.
Yesterday I went out
and I only saw on the balconies
the yawn of waiting, the fear
and crown of flowers
the yawn of waiting, the fear
and crown of flowers
the yawn and the damned waiting
and crown of flowers.