Medianoche

The song 'Medianoche' by Inti-Illimani is a poignant exploration of parting and the deep emotions associated with saying goodbye. The lyrics invite the listener to share in a ritual of farewell, symbolized by the drinking from twelve cups at midnight, which is a time traditionally associated with transitions and the mystical. The twelve tolls of the bell serve as a backdrop to this moment, each ring representing a step towards the final separation. The imagery of the 'frozen bronze' tolling suggests a cold, harsh finality to the farewell, emphasizing the weight of the moment.

The second verse introduces the metaphor of snow, which represents the bitterness of the parting. The snow that 'melted the winter' on the singer's temples signifies the passage of time and the changes it brings, often leading to the inevitable separation of loved ones. The 'desolate heart' speaks to the loneliness and desolation that accompanies such a departure. The act of kissing the snowflakes is a bittersweet acknowledgment of the beauty and pain intertwined in the farewell.

In the final verse, the song escalates to a climax with the image of biting into pain with twelve screams, signifying the intensity of the emotional experience. The 'last mouth you kiss' as one heads into the sunset is a powerful metaphor for the finality of the goodbye. The 'bitter sip' and the 'grey voice of the blind metals' further paint a picture of the somber mood. The midnight tolling brings with it the 'eternity of our two exiles,' suggesting that the separation is not just physical but also an emotional and spiritual rift that will endure through time.