The Prisoner of Til Til (El cautivo de Til Til)

Music piece by:
Patricio Manns
Testimony by:
Fernando Aravena
Experience in:
Cárcel de Santiago, 1989

The political prisoners organised mateadas(Southern Cone) Social meeting to drink infusion of mate leaves. once or twice a week, during which we did poetry and sang songs, amongst them ‘El cautivo de Til Til’ by Patricio Manns, ‘Samba Landó’ and ‘Vuelvo’ by Inti-Illimani, ‘Valparaíso’ by Osvaldo ‘Gitano’ Rodríguez, and songs by Eduardo ‘Gato’ Alquinta and Silvio Rodríguez.

‘El cautivo de Til Til’ had a special significance. As many of the prisoners were from El Frente(Frente Patriótico Manuel Rodríguez) Paramilitary organisation founded in 1983 to overthrow Pinochet’s government., ‘El cautivo de Til Til’ turned into our hymn. When they transferred another fellow and me to La Serena Prison, we also sang the song there. It was appropriate at that moment due to the number of people who were falling down. It would awake a feeling of injustice and abuse.

Let’s remember that Manuel Rodríguez was the first detained-disappeared of Chile. That left a profound impression, so you sang the song with passion, with that helplessness that you feel in the face of a tragedy that you cannot resolve.


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Published on: 27 April 2019

A pair of clear eyes
that through many swords
could be seen to sparkle
and that laughter that hid
who knows what secrets
and was meant for me.

When head high he marched off
Amidst the shouts of the sheriff
a premonition pained me
upon seeing him leave.

They say his name is Manuel
and they are taking him
on the road to Til Til
that the governor doesn’t want
to see his noble presence
along La Cañada anymore.

They say that in the war
he was the best and in the city
they call him the Fighter
of Freedom.

All I know is that his mind has wandered
the soldiers take him away
tied to a saddle
the troops distance him from his General.

All I know is that the wind
ruffles his hair
and the sun shines in his eyes
as they lead him
towards Til-Til.

They say he was like a bolt of lightning
when he galloped
on his steed
and as he rode past
everyone would call out
his name: Manuel.

I know not if I will see him again
free and noble
All I know is he was smiling
on the road to Til-Til.

Related testimonies:

  • Ode to Joy (Himno a la alegría)  Amelia Negrón, Campamento de Prisioneros, Tres Álamos, 31 December 1975

    Preparations for that Wednesday night became more intense. It would be a different night. We women prisoners had secretly organised ourselves, but more importantly, we had also coordinated with the male prisoners.

  • Ode to Joy (Himno a la alegría)  Renato Alvarado Vidal, Campamento de Prisioneros Cuatro Álamos, 1975

    Once upon a time, there was a good little wolf. … No. That’s another story.

  • The Crux of the Matter (La madre del cordero)  Servando Becerra Poblete, Campamento de Prisioneros Chacabuco, 9 November 1973 - 10 November 1974

    I recited this poem in the National Stadium. I continued to do so in the Chacabuco prison camp, earning the nickname of “Venancio” from my fellow prisoners.

  • The Crux of the Matter (La madre del cordero)  Servando Becerra Poblete, Campamento de Prisioneros, Estadio Nacional, 9 November 1973 - 10 November 1974

    I recited this poem in the National Stadium. I continued to do so in the Chacabuco prison camp, earning the nickname of “Venancio” from my fellow prisoners.

  • Casida of the Dark Pigeons (Casida de las palomas oscuras)  Luis Alfredo Muñoz González, Campamento de Prisioneros Cuatro Álamos, February - March 1975

    According to scientists, memory and music processing are situated in a deep, ancestral part of the brain, where it is zealously guarded.

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