A Cuban musician has touched the hearts of thousands of social media users after sharing the moment he leaves the Island and arrives in the Dominican Republic, describing the experience as something more than just a simple trip.
In a viral TikTok video, he shares: "I am a Cuban musician and I have just emigrated to the Dominican Republic, but it doesn't feel like just any journey. For the vast majority of Cubans today, leaving Cuba means escaping, it means hope."
In that same testimony, he explains the origin of a song written just before leaving: “that's why I packed my things, said goodbye to my people, and just before selling my guitar, I wrote one last song.” The video can be viewed on his TikTok account.
The young man also involves his audience in the creative process: “But I find it really challenging to come up with names for new songs, so I’m going to leave the complete lyrics in the description of this reel for you to help me choose a name for it. And if you don’t know me yet, my name is Manuel Leandro.”
The lyrics, shared in full in the post, reflect the emotional conflict of emigration:
“I wake up again from this prison of sand
facing the world as if I could
save us both from this emptiness
your heart, and mine.”
I must escape from here
running is my destiny
loving you is my homeland
and this song is my shelter.
The night was long, but everything comes to an end
and the morning arrives as if singing
a prayer that heals what we've lost
your heart, and mine.
I must escape from here
running is my destiny
loving you is my homeland
and this song is my shelter.
I must trust in myself
running is my path
your love brought me here
far from noise.”
Before that video, the musician himself had documented his departure from the country, narrating that “we flew to the Dominican Republic on a Friday the 13th, leaving behind a shattered Cuba”.
In another post, he also shared his feelings upon arrival, stating in another video shared on TikTok: "The Dominican Republic welcomed us with so much love, and after a long time, dreaming once again makes sense. I hope that very soon the same can be said in my country. Long live a free Cuba!"
The video has generated significant interaction among users, who not only react to the immigration testimony but also actively participate by suggesting names for the song. Among the suggestions are titles like "Escape," "Luggage and Hopes," "Steady Course," "My Shelter," "Invisible Border," or "Last Day on the Island."
Other comments reflect identification with the message and the migratory context. Some users highlight phrases from the lyrics such as "The night was long but everything comes to an end," while others propose interpretations like "Leaving home or the end of the night" or "Everything ends."
There are also those who suggest titles directly related to the idea of freedom and change, such as "Finally, Freedom," "In Search of My Freedom," or "The Yin and Yang of My Life."
Several comments convey support and a warm welcome in the destination country, with messages like “Welcome to RD” or “Dreams come true.”
Other users offer more symbolic readings of the song, suggesting titles like “My Coat,” in reference to one of the verses, or interpretations focused on the migratory experience as refuge and hope.
In addition, some comments reflect practical concerns about the migration process, with questions like "How do they leave, legally, what do they need?" and recommendations regarding job opportunities in tourist destinations.
The case reflects an increasingly visible reality on social media: that of Cubans documenting their departure from the country and sharing, in the first person, the emotional impact of starting over outside the Island, combining personal experiences with artistic expressions such as music.
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