La Bicicleta Blanca

The song 'La Bicicleta Blanca' by Horacio Ferrer is a narrative that weaves a tale of a solitary cyclist who traverses the city streets at night. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of this character, who is both peculiar and endearing, with his pants tucked into his socks and a cap pulled down over his ears. The cyclist is a mysterious figure, with no known origin or destination, and the narrator urges the listener to regard him with love, suggesting a deeper significance to his presence.

The song's chorus, with its rallying cry of 'Dale, Dios!' (Go, God!), captures the essence of perseverance and the belief that success is not about reaching a goal but about the journey and the act of continuing. The cyclist, with his small, square wheels and beard entangled in the pedals, becomes a symbol of determination and hope amidst adversity. The community's reaction to him is initially one of mockery, but as the song progresses, the cyclist's influence seems to inspire miraculous changes in society, from thieves returning stolen wallets to politicians addressing poverty.

However, the song takes a tragic turn when the community, in a moment of inexplicable cruelty, destroys the cyclist's white bicycle. The act is one of senseless violence, and the cyclist's response is one of forgiveness and resignation. The narrator reflects on the human condition, acknowledging our flaws and the distance between our aspirations and our actions. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the belief that the cyclist's spirit will return, perhaps to remind us once again of our potential for goodness and change.