Las Tumbas

Ismael Rivera's song 'Las Tumbas' is a poignant portrayal of the despair and longing for freedom experienced by someone who is incarcerated. The lyrics convey a deep sense of entrapment and the emotional toll that imprisonment takes on a person's psyche. Rivera uses the metaphor of 'las tumbas,' which translates to 'the graves,' to describe the prison. This metaphor equates the prison to a place for the dead, emphasizing the dehumanizing and life-draining nature of the incarceration experience.

The repetition of the desire to leave 'las tumbas' and the uncertainty of when that will happen reflects the hope and uncertainty that many prisoners feel. The line 'Las tumbas son pa' los muertos y de muerto no tengo na’a' (The graves are for the dead, and I have nothing of a dead man) suggests a strong will to live and a refusal to be reduced to a state akin to death. Rivera's lyrics express a yearning for life and freedom, and a rejection of the monotonous and painful existence within the prison walls.

The song also touches on the psychological impact of imprisonment, with lines like 'Si sigo aquí, enloqueceré' (If I stay here, I will go crazy), highlighting the urgency and desperation for release. Rivera's music, deeply rooted in the Puerto Rican experience and often addressing social issues, provides a voice to the voiceless and shines a light on the harsh realities faced by those in the margins of society. 'Las Tumbas' is not just a song about personal struggle; it's a commentary on the criminal justice system and the human spirit's resilience.