Despedir a Los Glaciares

Jorge Drexler's song "Despedir a Los Glaciares" is a poignant reflection on the inevitable changes brought about by time and climate change. The imagery of a single drop of water falling from the ice into the river serves as a powerful metaphor for the melting glaciers. This natural process, driven by the weight of the drop itself, symbolizes the unstoppable force of time that heals and destroys simultaneously. Drexler poetically acknowledges that just as the ice melts, it will eventually return, highlighting the cyclical nature of life and the environment.

The song also delves into the human experience of coping with loss and change. Drexler encourages listeners to honor their wounds and celebrate the beauty that departs, suggesting a form of acceptance and resilience. The repeated line, "Que encontremos la manera de despedir a los glaciares" (May we find a way to say goodbye to the glaciers), underscores the need for a collective acknowledgment and farewell to the disappearing glaciers. This line serves as a call to action, urging humanity to recognize and respond to the environmental crisis.

Drexler's lyrics also touch on the historical relationship between humans and the natural world. He references how humanity has adapted to the cold, naming the ice "Piedra de cielo" (Sky stone), and how the planet has endured through generations. The song's melancholic tone is balanced with a sense of reverence and a call for unity, as Drexler invites listeners to raise their glasses for a lost cause and let an "aleluya" (hallelujah) echo through the bars. This communal aspect emphasizes the shared responsibility and collective mourning for the glaciers, urging a unified response to environmental changes.