Canto de Nadie

Alfredo Zitarrosa's 'Canto de Nadie' is a poignant exploration of the themes of abandonment, unrequited love, and the ephemeral nature of beauty and art. The song is a milonga, a traditional form of music from the Río de la Plata region, which Zitarrosa masterfully uses to convey deep emotional and cultural resonances. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a milonga personified as a fragile, neglected entity, trembling in the singer's heart, accustomed to pain and sorrow.

The milonga is described as 'carne de otras milongas,' suggesting it is made from the remnants of other songs, a patchwork of past sorrows and joys. This metaphor extends to the idea of the milonga being a 'canto de nadie'—a song belonging to no one, floating aimlessly in the air, sprouting wings of consolation. The imagery of a 'flor de cartón' (cardboard flower) and 'rosa entregada con cada canción' (rose given with each song) underscores the transient and often unappreciated nature of artistic expression. The milonga, despite its beauty, is easily discarded, much like a flower that is smelled and then thrown away.

Zitarrosa's lyrics also touch on the exploitation and fleeting appreciation of art. The 'mano blanca' (white hand) that 'viola y arranca tu rosa y se va' (violates and plucks your rose and leaves) symbolizes those who take what they want from the milonga without truly valuing it. This act of taking and discarding reflects a broader commentary on how society often treats art and artists—valuing them only for a moment before moving on to the next new thing. The milonga, described as a 'muñequita de alambre' (wire doll), embodies a song that is emotionally charged yet ultimately an illusion, a 'sangre sin hambre, dolor sin dolor' (blood without hunger, pain without pain).

In the final verses, the milonga is likened to a 'gajito de enredadera' (little vine), faithful yet unwanted, with its 'flor de papel' (paper flower) no longer signifying the vibrancy of spring. This closing imagery encapsulates the song's melancholic tone, reflecting on the enduring yet often overlooked beauty of the milonga and, by extension, the artist's own work.