Doce Palabras

Amaral's song "Doce Palabras" delves into the emotional turbulence of longing and unfulfilled expectations. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a year spent in anticipation, marked by the symbolic use of the number twelve. This number recurs throughout the song, representing the twelve months of waiting, the twelve digits of a phone number, and the twelve chimes of the clock signaling the end of the year. The repetition of 'doce palabras' (twelve words) underscores the simplicity yet profound impact of the awaited communication that never arrives.

The song opens with a juxtaposition of speed and chaos against moments of boredom and unresolved mysteries, setting the stage for the emotional rollercoaster that follows. The chorus emphasizes the passage of time and the absence of the person the singer longs to hear from. The imagery of 'doce uvas blancas' (twelve white grapes) is a cultural reference to the Spanish tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve, each grape symbolizing a wish for each month of the coming year. This tradition is turned on its head as the singer's wishes remain unfulfilled, and the year ends without any news from the loved one.

As the song progresses, the sense of abandonment and unrequited love becomes more pronounced. The mention of 'doce santos y patronos' (twelve saints and patrons) and 'doce rezos y promesas' (twelve prayers and promises) highlights the desperation and the lengths to which the singer goes to seek solace and hope. Yet, despite these efforts, the singer remains disillusioned, symbolized by the transformation of the fairy tale carriage into a pumpkin. The final lines, 'solo doce palabras, doce palabras y me olvido de ti' (just twelve words, twelve words and I forget you), encapsulate the bittersweet resolution of letting go after a year of waiting in vain.

"Doce Palabras" is a poignant exploration of the pain of waiting, the passage of time, and the struggle to move on from unreciprocated love. Amaral's evocative lyrics and the recurring motif of twelve create a powerful narrative of longing and the eventual acceptance of reality.