Cafetín de Buenos Aires

The song "Cafetín de Buenos Aires" by Enrique Santos Discépolo is a poignant tribute to a café in Buenos Aires, which serves as a metaphor for the singer's life experiences and a place of personal growth. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who has grown up with the café, experiencing life's lessons within its walls. From a young age, the café was a place of longing and aspiration, symbolized by the image of a child with their nose pressed against the cold glass, looking in from the outside.

As the singer matures, the café becomes a place where he learns about life, from smoking his first cigarette to gaining hope in love. The café is personified as a nurturing figure, compared to the singer's mother, suggesting a deep emotional connection and a sense of home. It's a place where intellectuals and the downtrodden come together, where the singer learned about philosophy, gambling, and the harsh poetry of forgetting oneself in the face of life's struggles.

The song also touches on themes of friendship and loss, with the café providing a backdrop for these relationships. The friends mentioned in the song are a testament to the shared experiences and support found within the café's walls. The mention of a friend who has passed away but still guides the singer adds a layer of depth to the song, highlighting the café as a place of memory and continuity amidst change. The café is a witness to the singer's first heartbreak and the sorrows and joys of his years, ultimately becoming a place of surrender and acceptance.