There are three outstanding songs of special significance under the name of La Bayamesa within Cuban history and culture, all of them originally from Bayamo, cradle for Cuban nationality having illustrious traditions, where the first literary work of the country, Espejo de Paciencia by Silvestre de Balboa, saw the light in 1608, being also a flourishing city regarding to musical creation, spirit and independentist vocation.

The first Bayamesa was born to soothe disagreements between lovers and was sung for the first time on March 27, 1851. Francisco Castillo Moreno, a Bayamo-born youngster had been quarreling with his lover Luz Vázquez and asked to his friends José Fornaris and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (the latter was well-known afterwards as El Padre de la Patria, to compose a song capable to move the girl and put an end to her annoyance. So, guitar in hands, being accompanied by a violinist, they sang that beautiful song and gave it the name of La Bayamesa. It`s been said the song quickly gained everyone's acceptance going far beyond Bayamo`s boundaries, not only due to its lovely lyrics and its inspiring woman's beauty and patriotism, but also for the anti-colonialist charisma of its creators. Few years later, on October 10, 1868, under the same music, other verses appeared among the mambises making complete allusion to independence.

In the middle of the struggle against the Spanish colonialism the second Bayamesa saw the light, composed by Pedro Figueredo and conceived as a fighting hymn, also entitled 'La Bayamesa', referring maybe to the French Marsellesa. The song was sung by patriots from Carlos Manuel de Cespedes` troops on October 20, 1868 when they entered Bayamo city. In fact, this second Bayamesa was recognized as Cubans` hymn along the Guerra de los Diez Años (Ten Years War), becoming our National Hymn.

By the XXth century, the Santiago-born luminary Sindo Garay, whose contributions to Cuban music are highly assessed, gave life to the third Bayamesa. Sindo spent large seasons in Bayamo, from party to party, from serenade to serenade, that`s why, during a sunrise of 1918, he gave lyrics and music to his composition Mujer Bayamesa.

Troubadours from all times have always revived La Bayamesa, giving it timeless presence within the Cuban song .