el olvido - from Juanes "Minas Piedras"

Question

I'm translating the Juanes song "Minas Piedras" for myself and have a question about his use of "el olvido." My dictionary lists the meanings as "oblivion" or "forgetfulness," but in the context of this song it seems to mean "to be forgotten" -- can someone confirm or refute this?

Here are the lyrics in context:

"No merecemos EL OLVIDO
somos la voz del pueblo
dice un señor sentado
con sus dos ojos vendados
pero que aún tiene
la esperanza en sus manos."

Thanks!!! Wendy

Answer 1

It seems like you got it right..We dont deserve "to be forgotten" seems like the best and shortest translation to that first line ..

Answer 2

Thanks very much!

Answer 3

Those lyrics mean........

We do not deserve THE OVERSIGHT we are the voice of the town says a seated gentleman with its two eyes
bandaged but that still he has the hope in his hands.

Answer 4

i believe it is we are the voice of the "PEOPLE" not town

Answer 5

Thanks to all!

Answer 6

Scott, thats the problem when translating languages...its not a direct translation word for word..the way the words are arranged gives it a different meaning, even when the word means something else..Example with "somos la voz del pueblo"..pueblo is a town..but he's actually saying people..we are the voice of the people(who live in the town)..anyway..just my 2 cents..hahaha..

Answer 7

i believe dave and you are correct. the context is to be forgotten. I would say the lyrics mean something like,

we do not deserve to be forgotten, we are the voice of the people/nation, says the blind(blindfolded) man whilst sitting. but even so(in spite of this) he still holds(has) hope in his hands.

Answer 8

I know. I made an error when typing. I am translating it like it would have been here in Tijuana, México. But yes I ment to write people and not town. Sorry.

Answer 9

That's pretty much what I ended up translating, too:
We don't deserve to be forgotten
We are the voice of the people
Said a man sitting
With his two eyes blindfolded
But he still has
Hope in his hands.

Thanks for weighing in. I wasn't sure if "to be forgotten" was a legitimate translation, but it was the only one that made sense to me.