The Little Snail (El caracolito)

Music piece by:
Sergio Vesely
Testimony by:
Sergio Vesely
Experience in:
Cárcel de Valparaíso, 1976

I composed this song for a small children’s party we organised in the visitors’ yard of the Valparaíso Jail. I remember how the children had fun that day and enjoyed the play. That was the first time I put down the guitar so that a prisoner who played the accordion could accompany me.

'El caracolito' is one of three songs in this genre I wrote while in prison.


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Published on: 23 September 2015


'Good morning, little snail'
said the sun to the good snail.
'Hi, brother, I’m weary
and I want to sleep in my shell'.

Stretch out your feet, little snail
Stretch out your hands, you big snail.

He is lazy and a grouch
he spends his life wanting to rest.
He's got his house strapped to his back
and moves slowly because he's a glutton.

Stretch out your feet, little snail
Stretch out your hands, you big snail.

At nighttime when the stars come out
the snail sings to the beautiful night
lovely little snail songs
to put himself to sleep and dream.

Stretch out your feet, little snail
Stretch out your hands, you big snail.


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