La Boca

Joan Manuel Serrat's song 'La Boca' is a poetic exploration of the profound and intertwined themes of life, death, and love. The lyrics are rich with metaphors and vivid imagery, painting a picture of a mouth that is both a giver and receiver of life and death. The mouth, or 'boca,' is depicted as a powerful force that drags the speaker, illuminating their existence with its presence. This mouth is not just a physical entity but a symbol of connection, passion, and the cyclical nature of existence.

The song delves into the idea of the mouth as a vessel of memories and emotions. It speaks of kisses that transcend time, connecting the past, present, and future. The imagery of a kiss rolling from the first cemetery to the last stars suggests a continuity of human experience, where love and loss are eternal companions. The mouth becomes a repository of history, carrying the weight of those who have come before and those who will follow. This connection to the past is further emphasized by the mention of drinking and toasting to those who have fallen, highlighting the communal and generational aspects of human experience.

Serrat's lyrics also touch on the transformative power of love and death. The mouth is described as giving life to the night with its red and white glow, symbolizing the duality of existence. The three words—life, death, and love—are presented as inherited fires, etched onto the lips, signifying their enduring presence in human life. The song beautifully captures the essence of these universal themes, reminding us of the interconnectedness of our experiences and the perpetual dance between joy and sorrow, life and death, love and loss.