With you Peru: History of the emblematic anthem of the blanquirroja

Without a doubt, music is magical sounds that transport us, that move deep feelings and that manage to penetrate our soul to permeate us with it. This happens to us with the Creole waltz ‘With you Peru‘ composed by Augusto Polo Campos more than 40 years ago.

Since its first performance in 1977 for the World Cup qualifiers Argentina 78 until today it continues to move us in the same way and perhaps like a good wine, it shakes us more every day.

But how to explain the feelings generated this last Tuesday, March 29, after Peru’s triumph against Uruguay when the lyrics of ‘Contigo Perú’ resounded in unison at the National Stadium, accompanying the voice of Arturo ‘Zambo’ Cavero and the guitar of Óscar Avilés. The entire stadium surrendered to this anthem, the spectators, players, coaches of the national team and, without a doubt, the viewers and radio listeners as well.

History of ‘With you Peru’

The composer of this Creole waltz, considered by many to be the anthem of the people, was composed by Augusto Polo Campos, born in Ayacucho, but raised in the Rímac district, whose streets, friendships and loves made him one of the most successful composers. and remembered from the last times.

In an interview for the program “It happened in Peru” conducted by Norma Martínez, Augusto Polo Campos said that this issue was a request from the president of Peru, Francisco Morales Bermúdez for the qualifiers for the World Cup in Argentina 78.

They asked the composer to write the lyrics in just 15 days. However, Polo Campos left the offices of the Government Palace on the same day as said request and wrote it in 15 minutes.

“I ran to the Haiti cafe, I tell them give me a bill I’ll write”, said Augusto Polo Campos, who after finishing composing the lyrics of the song ran again to the Government Palace to show his finished work.

first performance

The first interpretation of the theme occurred in the first match of the World Cup Qualifiers Argentina 78, our rival was none other than Chile in the capital of the neighboring country. But our team was not alone, Augusto Polo Campos, Arturo ‘Zambo’ Cavero and Óscar Avilés came to the dressing rooms to inject them with the necessary energy to win the game.

“We went to the dressing rooms to sing to the boys who were drenched, the journalists (Chileans) were ‘aguaitando’ (observing) and (they published) they have brought a 200-kilo black man who is singing”, recalled for TV Peru, the Peruvian composer.

Arturo ‘Zambo’ Cavero and Oscar Aviles

Although the lyrics are a prayer to the homeland, the interpretation of the Creole singer Arturo ‘Zambo’ Cavero and the music by Óscar Avilés turned this song into a true anthem, whose notes to Peruvians make us vibrate.

“El Zambo was fully in tune with the lyrics. Every time I’ve heard him sing this song I listened to him moved, with pleasure and desire to interpret it, always”, Moraima Cavero, daughter of Arturo Zambo Cavero, told ATV. While Lucy Avilés, daughter of the guitarist acknowledges: “(My father) is a guitar revolutionary because there is a before and after Óscar Avilés, he starts with the high notes when they were all strings”.

Life brought the dynamic trio together to inject that Peruvianness into our veins, sometimes forgotten or asleep. “Every song of mine is a work of God, I was born to give songs”, pointed out Augusto Polo Campos for ATV, whom Peru thanks for his talent impregnated with red and white.

Lyrics ‘With you Peru’

When my eyes wake up and I see

I’m still living with you Peru

Excited I thank heaven

For giving me life with you Peru

You are very great, you will continue to be

Well we are all with you Peru

On my chest I carry your colors

And my loves are with you Peru

We are your children and we will unite

And so we will triumph with you Peru

United the coast (United the coast),

United the saw (United the saw),

United the jungle, with you Peru

United the work (United the work),

United the sport, (United the sport),

United the north, the center and the south

To triumph Peruvians (to triumph Peruvians),

That we are brothers (that we are brothers),

May our gratitude be made victory

I will give you life and when I die

I will join the land with you Peru!

I will give you life and when I die

I will join the land with you Peru!

United the coast (United the coast),

United the saw (United the saw),

United the jungle, with you Peru,

United the work (United the work),

United the sport (United the sport),

United the north, the center and the south

To triumph Peruvians (To triumph Peruvians)

That we are brothers (that we are brothers)

May our gratitude be made victory

I will give you life and when I die

I will join the land with you Peru!

I will give you life and when I die

I will join the land with you Peru!