Cabellera Blanca

Alfonso Ortiz Tirado's song "Cabellera Blanca" is a poignant tribute to the enduring love and wisdom of an elderly woman, likely a mother or grandmother. The imagery of the song is rich with warmth and nostalgia, as it opens with the scene of the old woman praying by the fireplace, a place of comfort and tradition. The fire's glow conjures up a chain of spirits that seem to tenderly comb her hair, symbolizing the passage of time and the care she has given throughout her life.

The lyrics describe her hair as a "Cabellera de plata" (silver hair) and "Cabellera de nieve" (snowy hair), metaphors that evoke both the beauty and the inevitability of aging. These descriptions are imbued with tenderness, referring to her hair as a "ball of tenderness" and a "legendary frost" that shines in the singer's sorrows. This suggests that her presence and memories provide comfort and solace, even in times of grief.

The song further elevates the woman's hair to a sacred status, calling it "blessed hair" and likening it to incense on an altar, a symbol of reverence and sanctity. The repeated references to her hair being bathed in sadness and formed from tears highlight the sacrifices and emotional burdens she has borne. Yet, despite these hardships, her hair is also a "skein of prayers," indicating that her life has been one of devotion and spiritual strength. The song concludes by dedicating the "whitest" of all songs to her, a final homage to her purity and the profound impact she has had on the singer's life.