Caballo de Cartón

Joaquín Sabina's 'Caballo de Cartón' paints a vivid picture of the monotonous and often soul-crushing routine of urban life. The song begins with the protagonist's morning ritual, which is anything but inspiring: a battle with the alarm clock, a grumpy awakening, and a quick stop at a bar for a coffee before facing the crowded and smelly metro. The lyrics evoke a sense of suffocation and the dehumanizing grind that city dwellers endure daily, with the metro symbolizing the collective resignation to a life of anonymity and isolation.

The chorus, mentioning places in Madrid such as Tirso de Molina and Gran Vía, serves as a metaphorical call to the protagonist's love interest, promising an escape from the dreariness of the day on a 'caballo de cartón' or 'cardboard horse.' This imagery suggests a fragile, makeshift escape from reality, highlighting the contrast between the mundane day and the freedom of the night, which the protagonist claims cannot be stolen from them. The song captures the dichotomy of urban life, where the desire for connection and escape coexists with the oppressive nature of the workday.

Sabina's lyrics also touch on the objectification and harassment faced by women, as seen in the lines about the construction worker and the man in the train. The song criticizes the dehumanizing aspects of the urban environment, where people are reduced to their functions or appearances. 'Caballo de Cartón' is a social commentary on the alienation of modern life, the yearning for escape, and the small rebellions against the system that confines us.