Los Bohemios de la Calle

Dominican folk song remembered in the Cibao region Los Bohemios de la Calle is a song I learned from my abuelo, Julio Guzmán Sr., who was born in 1927 in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic. He remembered the old people singing it when he was a child. When I asked him about Dominican folk songs, he sang this one to me from memory, a cappella, the way he remembered it. My abuelo is now nearly deaf, but he can still sing these songs from memory in perfect key. My dad recorded his rough singing during a visit, and I worked from that recording to create a voice and guitar arrangement, trying to preserve the melody and phrasing of how he sang it. I am not a native Spanish speaker, so I apologize for any imperfections in pronunciation. As far as I have been able to determine, I have not found another recording of this song. If you know of one, please share it in the comments. I would love to learn more about its history and where it comes from. Song: Los Bohemios de la Calle Origin: Cibao region, Dominican Republic Learned from: Julio Guzmán Sr. (b. 1927) Arrangement: Jason Paul (voice & guitar)

Los Bohemios de la Calle is a song I learned from my abuelo, Julio Guzmán Sr., who was born in 1927 in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic. He remembered hearing older people sing this song when he was a child. When I asked him about Dominican folk songs, he sang it for me from memory, a cappella, the way he remembered it. My abuelo is now nearly deaf, but he can still sing these songs from memory in perfect key. My dad recorded his rough singing during a visit, and I worked from that recording to create a voice and guitar arrangement, trying to preserve the melody and phrasing of how he sang it. I am not a native Spanish speaker, so I apologize for any imperfections in pronunciation. As far as I have been able to determine, I have not found another recording of this song. If you know of one, please share it in the comments. I would love to learn more about its history and where it comes from. The lyrics describe poor bohemians who are considered crazy by society, yet whose sincerity and freedom make them richer in spirit than those who judge them. The song reflects a long tradition of romantic and philosophical songs about wandering artists and outsiders. Song: Los Bohemios de la Calle Origin: Cibao region, Dominican Republic Learned from: Julio Guzmán Sr. (b. 1927) Arrangement: Jason Paul (voice & guitar) Lyrics and chords: [B]Po[F#7]bre b[B]oh[F#7]emios, [E]¿Qué conside[F#7]raban [B]locos? [F#7] [C#m]Eran me[F#7]jores [C#m] su si[F#7]nceridad, [B] [F#7] [B] sin[F#7]cero del [B]alma [F#7]y del [B]corazón. [F#7] [B]Pobre [F#7]bohemio, dur[E]miendo, [F#7] [B]En las [F#7]calles de [C#m]Alca[F#7]raz, [C#m]Y a[F#7]llí su[C#m]frían el [F#7]dolor de la [B]vida. [F#7] [B] [F#7] [B]Po[F#7]bre boh[B]em[F#7]ios, [C#m]Po[F#7]bre se[B]rán, [F#7] Más [B]pob[F#7]res se[B]rán.[F#7] Lo de [G#m]frente [E]del bo[G#m]hemio,[E] Por[B]que [F#7] el boh[B]emio[F#7], [C#m]Vive su [F#7]vida fe[C#m]liz, co[F#7]mo bo[B]hemio. [F#7] [B]