Porke Yorach

Elysian Fields' song 'Porke Yorach' is a hauntingly beautiful narrative that delves into themes of love, loss, and longing. The lyrics, sung in Spanish, tell the story of a young woman who is left behind by her lover. The opening lines, '¿Por qué lloras blanca niña? / ¿Por qué lloras blanca flor?' (Why do you cry, white girl? / Why do you cry, white flower?), set a melancholic tone, as the woman laments the departure of her beloved. Her sorrow is compounded by the responsibility of caring for their three young children, who cry and demand bread, symbolizing the struggle and hardship she faces in his absence.

The narrative progresses with the woman receiving a promise from her lover, who gives her money and assures her that he will return by seven or eight. However, time passes, and the woman waits in vain, sitting by the window that overlooks the sea. This imagery of waiting by the sea is a powerful metaphor for hope and despair, as she watches for a ship that never brings her lover back. The arrival of a small ship and the captain's revelation that her lover is no more adds to the tragic depth of the story. The description of her lover's burial, 'He hechado en aquellos campos / La tierra tenía poca mar' (He was buried in those fields / The earth had little sea), evokes a sense of finality and loss.

The song's lyrical content is rich with metaphors and cultural references. The use of 'blanca niña' and 'blanca flor' to describe the woman highlights her purity and innocence, while the repeated imagery of the sea and the window underscores the themes of waiting and longing. The song's structure, with its narrative progression and vivid imagery, draws the listener into the woman's emotional journey, making 'Porke Yorach' a poignant and evocative piece that resonates with anyone who has experienced love and loss.