Zorongo Gitano (Tangos)

Carmen Linares' 'Zorongo Gitano (Tangos)' is a deeply emotional and evocative song that delves into themes of love, longing, and heartache. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a passionate and unrequited love, using rich imagery and metaphors that are characteristic of traditional flamenco music. The song opens with the narrator describing how their hands are crafting a cloak for their beloved, adorned with delicate flowers and water-like embellishments. This act of creation symbolizes the care and devotion the narrator feels, setting the tone for the rest of the song.

As the song progresses, the narrator reminisces about a time when their love was reciprocated, symbolized by the 'springtime' and the 'silver sobs' of the horse's hooves. This nostalgic reflection highlights the contrast between past happiness and present sorrow. The recurring motif of the moon as a 'small well' and the flowers as 'worthless' emphasizes the insignificance of these natural beauties compared to the value of the beloved's embrace. This metaphor underscores the depth of the narrator's yearning and the emotional void left by the absence of their lover's affection.

The song's emotional intensity peaks as the narrator reveals their nightly ritual of crying in the fields, overwhelmed by the pain of unrequited love. The repetition of the phrase 'the moon is a small well' serves as a poignant reminder of the narrator's despair. The final verses express a desperate wish for more time to love the beloved, even if it means enduring the torment of unfulfilled dreams. The song concludes with a powerful declaration of the narrator's madness, driven by the desire for their dreams to become reality. Through its heartfelt lyrics and passionate delivery, 'Zorongo Gitano (Tangos)' captures the essence of flamenco's emotional depth and the universal experience of longing for a love that remains just out of reach.