Sal

Alex Sampedro's song 'Sal' delves into the theme of a faith that has lost its potency and the struggle of maintaining religious authenticity in a world that seems to have forgotten the true essence of spirituality. The lyrics metaphorically use elements of Christian practice to express a sense of disillusionment and spiritual fatigue. The opening lines speak of a Bible that does not speak and a crucifix that does not save, suggesting a disconnect between religious symbols and their intended spiritual power.

The song continues to explore this theme by mentioning prayers without a subject and preaching to dry bones, referencing the biblical story of Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones, symbolizing a lifeless faith. Sampedro also touches on the idea of religious practices becoming routine and losing their meaning, with phrases like 'the wine is vinegar' and 'the bread tastes of nothing.' The repeated line 'Tengo una sal que ya no sala' (I have a salt that no longer salts) is particularly poignant, drawing from the biblical metaphor of Christians being the 'salt of the earth,' implying that the singer's faith or the faith of the community has become ineffective.

The song's critique extends to the institutional church, with references to a church that does not go out, light hidden under a table, and a distracted virgin, possibly alluding to a lack of engagement with the world and a failure to live out the teachings of Jesus. The imagery of frozen manna and cold words suggests a spiritual stagnation. The repeated line 'Pero el cojo ya no baila' (But the lame man no longer dances) could be interpreted as a lament that even with all the wealth (gold and silver), the transformative power of faith that would make the lame dance is absent. 'Sal' is a call to reawaken the true spirit of faith and to live out its principles with conviction and authenticity.