The words to this song were taken from a much longer poem by Cuban poet, nationalist and revolutionary, Jose Martí. After his death these verses were set to a popular folk tune and the chorus added. Guantanamera means a woman from Guantánamo, the southern Cuban province surrounding the US Naval Base and prison of Guantanamo Bay. Yo soy un hombre sincero, de donde crece la palma, Y antes de morir, yo quiero echar mis versos del alma. (Guantanamera, Guajira, Guantanamera. Guantanamera) Mi verso es de un verde claro, y de un carmín encendido. Mi verso es un ciervo herido que busca en el monte amparo. Con los pobres de la tierra quiero yo mi suerte echar. El arroyo de la sierra me complace más que el mar. Less