Quesos, Cosas, Casas

Ricardo Arjona's song 'Quesos, Cosas, Casas' is a poignant commentary on the human condition, filled with irony and social critique. The lyrics juxtapose various elements of life, highlighting the absurdities and contradictions that define our existence. Arjona uses a series of contrasts to illustrate how different aspects of life, whether they be social status, race, or personal struggles, ultimately share commonalities. For instance, he points out that 'the dead are thirsty' and 'the living have guilt,' emphasizing that regardless of our circumstances, we all face similar existential dilemmas.

The chorus, 'Quesos, cosas, casas,' serves as a metaphor for the material and immaterial things we accumulate throughout our lives. 'Quesos' (cheeses) symbolize the basic necessities for survival, 'cosas' (things) represent the material possessions we use to adorn our lives, and 'casas' (houses) signify the spaces we inhabit. Arjona critiques the human tendency to complicate life with 'peros' (buts) and 'paras' (stops), suggesting that we often create our own obstacles and excuses. He questions why, despite having the essentials for life, we still find reasons to be dissatisfied and to complicate our existence.

Arjona also touches on the concept of private property and consumerism, criticizing how these constructs have transformed us from dreamers into consumers. He suggests that the invention of private property was merely a sales tactic, turning the 'monkey who dreamed' into a 'consumer' of 'quesos, cosas, casas.' This critique extends to the superficiality of modern life, where we are consumed by the need for material possessions and social status, often at the expense of our true happiness and freedom.

Through 'Quesos, Cosas, Casas,' Arjona invites listeners to reflect on the ironies and contradictions of life, urging us to reconsider what truly matters. The song is a call to simplify our lives and focus on the essentials, rather than getting lost in the complexities and superficialities that society imposes on us.