Bay Fisherman

 

Bay Fisherman is a local song that causes emotions in the local people and is enlaced to local history. Here is a brief outline of its roots.

 

 

-“Doctor, we’re got to sing a song in the “Pre Cosquín de Choele Choel”. Can you give us a hand?” asked the San Matías choir. Their question was put to Raul Zoni, a local doctor who was known for his poetical hand. It was the 60’s and local fishing was insignificant at that time. Nevertheless, along with the local railway it constituted the main economic activity of the town.

The large fishing families of the Navarrete, the Salas, the Baluzcinsky and the Migone to mention only a few, had settled in the “Ensanche Sur”, a growing neighbourhood, full of one-storey precarious houses. Many kept their rowing boats in the backyard so that their owners could fish silversmelt and snook and hand them over to the stockers.

A few accidents had bought a certain sadness to the fishing community due to the scallop fever but now fishing took place on the shoreline and the risks were less.Zoni answered the choirs plea by writing a ficticious fishing history… ficticious but fact… that would cause quite an effect on the community.

One night in his home at 80 NULL San Martín street, the words of the Bay Fisherman were born.

Roberto Gardella, voice and guitar of the group (along with Nestor Callejas, Ricardo “Negrucho” Mieres and Felix Ventura) composed the music to go with the words. They competed in the section “canción inedita” on the festival and got second place. But history as it goes would transform the song into a local hymn.

This happened after various tragedies struck the fishing families.That’s why whenever a “sanantoniense” singer entones the Bay song, a silence wraps it’self around the room. Be it on a stage or at a family barbecue the silence is in respect not only of the artist but of the local fishermen who, during the last forty years have given their lives to the San Matías water. This is what Dr Zoni anticipated during the rainy night that he wrote the song.

 

 

 

Words: Raul Zoni

Music: Roberto Gardella

 

 

Spoken:

Today I offer you my respect,

San Antonio fisherman.

In a corner of the “Ensanche”,

On the other side of the lineI

slowly entered into your nightsI

nto your life

And you told me your stories

Of San Matías Bay.

 

 

Sung:

Before the king of the horizon breaks

And while water keeps you from grounding

With your dreams of swollen nets

Bay fisherman you go to sea.

 

 

Held fast to the oars, your beaten hands

Fighting the waves, you row and row.

Beyond there is a pleasant beach,

with still waters,God willing, he’ll give you a good catch.

 

 

But it’s that dark monster

That comes growling from the south

Who makes mountains of foam from the water

And even makes the boats seem to cry.

 

 

Bay fisherman.

Why don’t you come back?

What’s taking so long?

Night falls as does peace.

 

 

But within the “Ensanche” there is a poor little ranch.

And at the door a child calls for his father,

Not knowing that heaven, on seeing such a good man,

Let the king of the Bay take him fishing.