Balada Para Mi Muerte

Horacio Ferrer's 'Balada Para Mi Muerte' is a poignant and introspective piece that delves into the themes of mortality, nostalgia, and the intimate relationship between the artist and his city, Buenos Aires. The song is a lyrical meditation on the inevitability of death, set against the backdrop of the city that has shaped the narrator's life. Ferrer, a renowned Uruguayan poet and lyricist, is known for his deep connection to tango, and this song is imbued with the melancholic and passionate spirit of the genre.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the narrator's final moments, filled with personal artifacts and memories. The mention of 'mi pequeña poesía de adioses y de balas' (my little poetry of farewells and bullets) suggests a life marked by both beauty and violence, encapsulated in the art of tango. The recurring motif of dawn ('toda el alba') symbolizes a new beginning even in the face of death, while the 'penúltimo whisky' (penultimate whisky) left undrunk signifies unfinished business and the fleeting nature of life.

Ferrer's use of Buenos Aires as the setting for his death is significant. The city is not just a backdrop but a character in itself, embodying the tango culture and the emotional landscape of the narrator. The reference to 'plaza Francia' and 'calle blanca' evokes specific locales, grounding the universal theme of mortality in a deeply personal and cultural context. The song's melancholic tone is heightened by the imagery of 'muertes, viejas muertes' (deaths, old deaths) and the silent departure of memories 'en puntitas de pie' (on tiptoes), creating a hauntingly beautiful elegy for a life intertwined with the soul of Buenos Aires.