Mi Viejo Potro Tordillo

Atahualpa Yupanqui's song 'Mi Viejo Potro Tordillo' is a heartfelt tribute to a loyal horse, reflecting on themes of loyalty, mortality, and the deep bond between a man and his animal companion. The song opens with a vivid image of the old horse lying in the corner of a field, seemingly waiting for death to offer a brief respite. The horse's worn-out appearance, marked by time, sun, and long journeys, paints a picture of a life well-lived but nearing its end. The buzzing of flies around the horse adds to the somber atmosphere, highlighting the inevitability of death.

The narrative takes a turn when a man arrives with a truck full of horses, offering money to take the old horse to the slaughterhouse. The protagonist's refusal to sell his horse, despite its apparent uselessness, underscores a profound respect for the animal's life and its right to die in familiar surroundings. This decision is a poignant commentary on the fate of many Argentine horses, often sold off when they are no longer deemed useful. The repeated lament, 'Malhaya triste destino, los caballos argentinos' (Wretched sad fate, the Argentine horses), serves as a powerful refrain, emphasizing the tragic destiny of these noble creatures.

In the final verses, the protagonist reassures his old horse that it will not be taken to the slaughterhouse. Instead, he promises to bury the horse in the land it knows and loves, planting a tree to honor its memory. This act of planting a tree symbolizes the enduring bond between the man and his horse, ensuring that the horse's spirit will live on in the landscape it roamed. The song concludes with a sense of peace and acceptance, as the protagonist envisions the horse resting in its familiar pampa, where the wire fences end and the thorn bushes begin. Yupanqui's lyrics beautifully capture the essence of loyalty, respect, and the natural cycle of life and death.