This is wild: Silvio Rodriguez, the great Cuban guitarist, by accident was seated on a plane next to Gabriel Garcia Marquez. They hit it off and Marquez told Silvio a story about...ok, and this is a stretch... an abandoned bride in Saint Petersburg, standing in her white dress on a bridge, looking down into the waters and seeing the reflection of a stork, and this bride, Elena, wonders how the hell the bird knows which direction to go, heading south. A wonderful metaphor for that rudderless feeling you get when your groom decides to be a no-show at your wedding!
This track particularly show off Michael's magnificent prowess on the guitar.
lyrics
San Petersburgo by Silvio Rodriguez (Insp. by conversation w.Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
Sobre algún puente del delta del Neva,
la noche blanca cautiva y revela
cada suspiro de Elena.
Sobre algun puente Elena sonaba
Y en el oscuro temblar de las aguas
Una Ciguena volaba
"Que hacen las aves
cuando no saben
la direccion del sur?"
Buscando estio
Surcan el frio
en alas de albur
Sobre algun puente,bordado de historias
Abandonada, lloraba la novia
su blanca noche, sin gloria
San Petersburgo by Silvio Rodrigues
English rendering by Suzy Williams
Saint Petersburg
On a bridge over the Delta de Neva
The white-colored night captures and reveals
Every sigh of Elena
On that bridge, Elena dreams
and in the trembling dark waters
a lone stork is flying...
"What happens to the birds
when they don't remember the direction of the south?"
Looking for summer, succumbing to the cold,
on their wings of pure chance.
On the bridge, embroidered in stories and memory
Abandoned, she cries out!
...This white night, with no glory at all.
credits
from Bravo,
released February 14, 2019
San Petersburgo by Silvio Rodriguez (Insp. by conversation w.Gabriel Garcia Marquez) Vocals: Suzy Williams, Guitar: Michael Jost
Rick Boston: Harp & Mando Cello Matthew DeMerritt: Melodica
Inspired by Ethio-jazz Library music, soul, and beyond, this instrumental UK outfit don't mess around when it comes to grooves. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 11, 2024