Ciudadano

Joan Manuel Serrat's song 'Ciudadano' paints a vivid picture of the struggles and ironies faced by urban dwellers. The lyrics delve into the anonymity and displacement experienced by citizens in the bustling city streets. Serrat describes individuals moving against the wind, with trembling pockets and bare souls, highlighting their financial and emotional vulnerabilities. The imagery of being 'broken and uprooted' underscores the sense of disconnection and instability that pervades urban life.

The song also touches on the cacophony of city life, where people shout and rush through their days, indifferent to one another. Serrat portrays a society where individuals are trapped in their own shells, oblivious to the struggles of others. The lines 'asfixiado en los humos y en las gestiones' (suffocated by fumes and errands) capture the suffocating nature of urban existence, where the daily grind leaves little room for empathy or connection. The indifference of society is further emphasized with the line 'A quién le importarán tus deudas y tus deudores' (Who will care about your debts and debtors), suggesting a lack of communal support.

Serrat also critiques the social hierarchy and the exploitation of the working class. He describes how people are categorized and confined in 'amargas colmenas' (bitter hives), growing and multiplying in ignorance. The 'encantadora gente' (charming people) who speculate with the citizens' labor, water, air, and streets are depicted as detached and uninformed, yet they hold significant power. The song concludes with a poignant observation about the so-called 'important citizens'—scientists, poets, intermediaries, and politicians—who are often celebrated, yet nine out of ten are not truly stars. This critique of societal values and the superficial recognition of success adds a layer of irony to the song, questioning what it means to be a 'citizen' in such a fragmented and indifferent world.