Como un Angel
Carlos Varela
The Silent Desperation of a Neglected Soul
Carlos Varela's song "Como un Angel" paints a poignant picture of a young woman trapped in a life of emotional neglect and familial strife. The lyrics describe her as being confined in her room, likened to an angel in a prison. Her only solace comes from incense, a Doors record, and marijuana, which temporarily ease her pain. The repeated refrain, "Nadie le dio algo de amor. Nadie," underscores the profound absence of love and warmth in her life, highlighting her isolation and despair.
The song delves deeper into the dysfunctional family dynamics that contribute to her suffering. Her father is constantly fighting, and her mother is perpetually crying, creating an environment devoid of stability and affection. Religious imagery, such as a virgin hanging on the wall and a cross tattooed on her back, suggests a search for spiritual solace that remains unfulfilled. The young woman's desperate need for love and escape becomes evident as she decides to run away, seeking a place where she might find the care and understanding she lacks at home.
In a tragic turn, the song narrates her ultimate escape through a leap from a balcony, an act that symbolizes her final attempt to reach for something beyond her painful reality. The imagery of her trying to touch the sun in mid-air evokes a sense of yearning for freedom and transcendence. Her disappearance, likened to an angel vanishing, leaves a haunting impression of a life lost to neglect and emotional abandonment. Varela's lyrics serve as a powerful commentary on the devastating effects of a loveless environment and the lengths to which one might go to escape it.