Al Pirata Joan Torrellas
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"Al Pirata Joan Torrellas" is a song written by Catalonian musician and composer Carles Casanovas i Rigall, of the habanera band Port Bo. It was originally released on their 1990 album De l'Empordà a l'Havana. The lyrics provide a romanticized portrait of pirate life, telling of the titular Joan Torrellas, a fearless and merciless pirate who sails the seas in search of plunder, leaving "a trail of blood and fire" in his wake, but also sings songs and dreams of freedom. He also seeks to return to the island of S'Espalmador to dig up his buried treasure.
The Longest Johns released their version in collaboration with El Pony Pisador as track 5 on on the EP The Longest Pony.
Factoids
Habanera (literally "of Havana") is a style of music originating in early 19th century Cuba as a variant of the Spanish and Latin American contradanza (itself a descendant of the English country dance). After spreading to Europe, it enjoyed such great popularity in Spain that by the late 19th century it was widely associated with that country in particular, and remains popular there today, despite being largely relegated to history in its original home of Cuba.[1]
A defining feature of habanera music is its rhythmic structure: it uses a 2/4 time signature and incorporates the African-derived tresillo and cinquillo patterns, giving it a distinctive, syncopated sound.[2]
Lyrics
Lyrics sourced from azlyrics.com and verified against the official recording. Translation very kindly provided by YouTube user sayrins.
Original
Per nau, un vaixell de vint canons
Per llar, els confins blaus de la mar
Per llei, el vent de tramuntana
Vent que engalana
El bergantí, en la foscor
Busca una nau per enfonsar
Busca un vaixell per abordar
Mentre el pirata navega
Deixa al darrere
Estela de sang i de foc
Flama de mort
Canta el pirata a coberta
Canta somnis de llibertat
Des de l'Illa de Formentera
Al nord-est de Mallorca
I del cel de Menorca
Fins a l'Empordà
Solca el mar a tota vela
Fins a l'illa d'Espelmador
On fa més de cent trenta llunes
Entre les roques
Va enterrar el cofre d'or
Diuen que no sap el que ės la por
Diuen que l'han vist jugar amb la mort
Diuen que la sang l'enamora
I no perdona cap enemic
Carregat de rom i blat
Canta el pirata a coberta
Canta somnis de llibertat
Des de l'Illa de Formentera
Al nord-est de Mallorca
I del cel de Menorca
Fins a l'Empordà
Solca el mar a tota vela
Fins a l'illa d'Espelmador
On fa més de cent trenta llunes
Entre les roques
Va enterrar el cofre d'or
El seu tresor
English Translation
For vessel, a twenty-gun ship
For home, the blue confines of the sea
For law, the North Wind
Wind that adorns
The brigantine in the dark
Looking for a ship to sink
Looking for a ship to board
As the pirate sails
He leaves behind him
A trail of blood and fire
Flame of death
The pirate sings on deck
Sings dreams of freedom
From Formentera island
To the north-east of Mallorca
And from the skies of Menorca
To the Empordà
Sail the sea at full sail
To the island of S'Espalmador
Where more than a hundred and thirty moons ago
Among the rocks
He buried his chest of gold
They say he knows no fear
They say they have seen him play with death
They say that blood makes him fall in love
And that he does not forgive any enemy
Laden with rum and wheat
The pirate sings on deck
Sings dreams of freedom
From Formentera island
To the north-east of Mallorca
And from the skies of Menorca
To the Empordà
Sail the sea at full sail
To the island of S'Espalmador
Where more than a hundred and thirty moons ago
Among the rocks
He buried his chest of gold
His treasure
Recordings
Stream/Purchase
Gig Videos
- Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK (2 Feb 2025) (with El Pony Pisador)
- O2 Academy2, Liverpool, UK (3 Feb 2025) (with El Pony Pisador)