Elegía

Joan Manuel Serrat's 'Elegía' is a poignant tribute to a dear friend who has passed away. The song is a direct reference to the poem 'Elegía a Ramón Sijé' by the Spanish poet Miguel Hernández, written upon the death of his close friend Ramón Sijé. Serrat's adaptation of this poem into song form preserves the emotional weight and the themes of grief, loss, and the desire for an impossible reunion.

The lyrics express a deep sense of mourning and the impact of Sijé's death on Hernández. Phrases like 'Yo quiero ser llorando el hortelano' (I want to be the gardener crying) and 'Tanto dolor se agrupa en mi costado' (So much pain is gathered in my side) illustrate the poet's wish to nurture the memory of his friend and the intense pain he feels. The song speaks to the universal experience of losing someone close and the struggle to come to terms with the finality of death. The imagery of wanting to 'escarbar la tierra con los dientes' (dig the earth with my teeth) to reach the departed friend underscores a desperate longing to reverse the irreversible.

Serrat's rendition of 'Elegía' is not only a homage to Hernández and Sijé but also an expression of the enduring nature of friendship and love beyond death. The song's final verses evoke a sense of hope and continuity, as the poet imagines his friend's soul returning to nature and the simple, beautiful aspects of life they once shared. The reference to 'talking about many things' with the departed soul suggests a yearning for the conversations and connections that death has interrupted.