De Corrales a Tranqueras

Alfredo Zitarrosa's "De Corrales a Tranqueras" is a milonga, a traditional style of music from the Rio de la Plata region of South America, known for its poetic lyrics and distinctive rhythm. The song is a nostalgic reflection on a journey, both literal and metaphorical, from youth to the weariness of older age, and from the excitement of new love to the solitude of loss.

The lyrics begin by questioning the distance between two places, Corrales and Tranqueras, which can be seen as a metaphor for the journey of life. Zitarrosa reminisces about traveling this distance without counting the leagues because he was driven by love. The journey was filled with natural beauty and a sense of harmony, as everything around him seemed to sing along with his joyous heart. The imagery of a young horseman, confident and in control, suggests a time of vigor and passion.

As the song progresses, the tone shifts to one of weariness and sorrow. The once lively paths now seem long and arduous, and the singer is burdened by the hardships of life ('changar' means to work hard). The repetition of the opening question at the end of the song, now tinged with pain, underscores the transformation that has occurred. The journey that once was a thrilling adventure has become a source of introspection and melancholy, as the singer grapples with the passage of time and the weight of his memories.