Caminito a La Obra (Historia Por Rumbas)

Joan Manuel Serrat's song "Caminito a La Obra (Historia Por Rumbas)" paints a vivid picture of the daily life and struggles of the working class. The lyrics delve into the harsh realities faced by laborers, who are marked by the sun and toil with their hands, symbolized by the 'hierro de paleta' (trowel iron). The song opens with a resigned acknowledgment of the protagonist's fate, who starts his day with a simple breakfast and heads to work, a routine that seems to have trapped him in a cycle of monotony and hardship.

The song's chorus, "Vale, que son almas que zozobran caminito de la obra," highlights the precariousness of these workers' lives. They are souls adrift, navigating the path to the construction site, their dreams crumbling by day and growing by night. This metaphor of dreams that rise and fall with the sun underscores the fleeting nature of hope in the face of relentless labor. The mention of 'lágrimas de cemento' (tears of cement) poignantly captures the emotional toll of their work, as their dreams slip away like the wind.

Serrat also touches on moments of respite and small joys, such as sharing a meal or dreaming of a better future. The reference to 'hacerle, a su capataz, la vaca' (playing a trick on the foreman) and cheering for their favorite football teams, Betis and Barça, adds a touch of humanity and camaraderie amidst the struggle. However, the song circles back to the harsh reality that, despite these moments, the workers' lives remain unchanged, and their dreams continue to be rocked by the tides of oblivion. Through this poignant narrative, Serrat sheds light on the resilience and enduring spirit of the working class, even as they face an unchanging and often unforgiving world.