Un Viaje Largo (2006) – Marcela Gandara

It’s been a long time since the divine voice of Marcela Gándara has graced these pages. The Mexican Christian singer has perhaps the biggest following of any Christian music artist I can think of in Latin America. All denominations alike – even the non-religious – are enamoured with her music. It’s so prevalent you regularly hear buskers singing her songs – something that even happened outside my own house, especially during the pandemic. That’s certainly when you know you have made it!

I have always had a penchant for Christian music, and it appears here with some frequency, including from Marcela. I’ve heard my fair share of Christian singers, but I haven’t heard any voice that quite reaches the lofty heights of Marcela’s. Her voice exudes so much passion and character, not to mention technical prowess, that I’m left agape and in awe whenever I hear it. To me, she will always stand on her own pedestal – untouchable, where she reigns supreme.

Today’s featured track Un Viaje Largo (Eng: A Long Trip) is an adoration / worship song. The spiritual undertones are evident in the references to being part of “Sus propósitos eternos” (“His eternal purposes”), indicating a belief in a higher power guiding one’s life. This aligns with Gándara’s Christian faith, which often influences her music.

Sitting down with a coffee in New York City, Marcela explains in a short video the meaning of the song from her perspective. Since it’s spoken in Spanish, here is an overview in English:

Un Viaje Largo was written by Jesus Adrian Romero (image inset) and first released on Marcela Gandara’s album Más Que un Anhelo in 2006. You can watch Jesus and Marcela perform together – Tú Estás Aquí. Jesus attended Marcela’s congregation for a time and it was where they met. 

Marcela said that when she first read the song, she felt it described her exactly. It spoke about someone who had struggled with shyness and with finding what God had planned for their life. She admitted that at first she even felt embarrassed by it and thought she might never sing it, because it revealed something so personal – that she was shy and had gone through that process. It took her time to feel comfortable sharing that journey.

But the heart of the message, she explains, is a reminder that both your life and mine have purpose and direction. God did not create us by chance. He made each person with a specific purpose in mind. He has placed in our hearts the ability to be a blessing to those around us, and has given us talents and gifts that equip us to do what we are meant to do and to move forward in life.

Below I have presented the original studio version and an official live acoustic version.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy Un Viaje Largo.

Ha sido largo el viaje pero al fin llegué / The journey has been long but I finally arrived
La luz llegó a mis ojos aunque lo dudé / The light reached my eyes although I doubted it
Fueron muchos valles de inseguridad los que crucé / There were many valleys of insecurity that I crossed
Fueron muchos días de tanto dudar, pero al fin llegué, llegué a entender / There were many days of so much doubt, but I finally arrived, I came to understand

Chorus
Que para esta hora he llegado, para este tiempo nací, en sus propósitos eternos yo me vi /That for this hour I have arrived, for this time I was born, in his eternal purposes I saw myself
Para esta hora he llegado, aunque me ha costado creer, entre sus planes para hoy me encontré / By this time I have arrived, although it was hard for me to believe, among his plans for today I found myself

Y nunca imaginé que dentro de su amor / And I never imagined that inside your love
Y dentro de sus planes me encontrara yo / And within his plans I will find myself
Fueron muchas veces que la timidez, me lo impidió / There were many times that shyness prevented me
Fueron muchos días de tanto dudar, pero al fin llegué, y ya te amé / There were many days of so much doubt, but I finally arrived, and I already loved you

Chorus

Ha sido largo el viaje pero al fin llegué…/ The journey has been long but I finally arrived…