"Guantanamera" (; Spanish: (the woman) from Guantánamo) is a Cuban patriotic song, which uses a poem by the Cuban poet José Martí for the lyrics. The official writing credits have been given to Joseíto Fernández, who first popularized the song on radio as early as 1929 (although it is unclear when the first release as a record occurred). In 1966, a version by American vocal group the Sandpipers, based on an arrangement by the Weavers from their May 1963 Carnegie Hall Reunion concert, became an international hit. The song has notably been covered or interpolated by Pete Seeger, Celia Cruz, and Wyclef Jean. Lyrics By José Martí The better known "official" lyrics are based on selections from the poetry collection Versos Sencillos (Simple Verses) by Cuban poet and independence hero José Martí, as adapted by Julián Orbón. The four verses of the song were adapted from four stanzas of Versos Sencillos, each from a different poem. They are presented here in the original Spanish (poem:stanza). By Joseíto Fernández Given the song's musical structure, which fits A–B–A–B (sometimes A–B–B–A) octosyllabic verses, "Guantanamera" lent itself from the beginning to impromptu verses, improvised on the spot, similar to what happens with the Mexican folk song "La Bamba". Joseíto Fernández first used the tune to comment on daily events on his radio program by adapting the lyrics to the song's melody, and then using the song to conclude his show. Through this use, "Guantanamera" became a popular vehicle for romantic, patriotic, humorous, or social commentary in Cuba and elsewhere in the Spanish-speaking world. The lyrics often sung by Fernández are about a peasant woman or country girl from Guantánamo (" Guantanamera"), with whom he once had a romantic relationship, and who eventually left him. Fernández provided several explanations during his lifetime, including that she did not have a romantic interest in him, but merely a platonic one. By other artists Various other versions have combined lyrics based on the José Martí poem. Additional verses commonly sung are: Y para el cruel que me arranca el corazón con que vivo cardo ni oruga cultivo cultivo la rosa blanca. Yo sé de un pesar profundo entre las penas sin nombre: la esclavitud de los hombres es la gran pena del mundo. No me pongan en lo oscuro A morir como un traidor Yo soy bueno y como bueno Moriré de cara al sol Music The music