Thanks to Derek O'Connor. And for the beautiful Andean flutes of the magnificent Jorge Alfano.

 
Tanta Belleza! (So Much Beauty!)--John Margolis, Don Rosler (translation and inspiration by Isabel Keating)
                                                  
buenas dias mi amigos
hope you don't mind if I
set my paints and canvass here
 
since I've returned to Popayan
my problem has been
I can't paint a thing
I'm so overwhelmed by...
                                   
                  tanta belleza! (so much beauty)
                  es que no puedo enquadralo (I cannot contain it)
                  tanta belleza! (so much beauty)
                  en un marco tan pequeno  (in so small a frame)
                       
verde rosa cielo mariposas (green, rose, sky, butterflies)
caras hojas montes esmeraldas (faces, leaves, mountains, emeralds)
 
                  tanta belleza
                  oh so much beauty
                  tanta belleza
 
buenas tardes ninos y ninas (good afternoon boys and girls)
de Barranquilla                (of Barranquilla)    
can I paint here while you play
 
I used to play along these streets
so many memories
look, there's my mother calling to me
 
                  chorus
 
baya sonrisa campana bicicleta  (berry, smiles, bells, bicycle)
cometa ramitas de violettas   (kite, sprigs of violets)
 
                  tanta belleza (so much beauty)
                  no hay forma de enquadrarlo(there is no form to contain it)
 
rio lindo botellas estrellas  (river, pretty, bottle, stars)
manos tierra colores de la bandera (hands, land, colors of the bandera)
ojos brillan cantando bailando (eyes shining, singing, dancing)
suave el viento sonidos de amor (soft breezes, sounds of love)
flautas fiestas cestas clavales (flutes, fiestas, baskets, carnations)
vida luces topaza de la espiritu (life, light, topaza of the spirit)

Arranged by John Margolis
with Don Rosler
Jorge Alfano – Andean Flutes & Bass
Beledo – guitars
Derek O’Connor – extra guitar
Randy Crafton – percussion
John Margolis – vocals
Isabel Keating, Barbara Martinez
& Derek O’Connor – bgd. Vocals
Recorded at Pawnee Rock
Premix Julio Peña
Final mix by Tim Leitner