Milonga Abaixo de Mau Tempo

José Claudio Machado's song "Milonga Abaixo de Mau Tempo" paints a vivid picture of the hardships faced by gauchos, the cowboys of the South American pampas, particularly during adverse weather conditions. The lyrics are steeped in the imagery of a flooded landscape, where cattle suffer and the land becomes a challenging environment for both man and beast. The opening lines describe the peculiar sight of cattle struggling with the pain of lameness, their snouts in the water, and the fields submerged, compelling the gauchos to turn to prayer as they navigate their sorrows.

The song captures the emotional weight of these experiences, with the sad eyes of the cattle crossing the river and the exhaustion evident in their drool. The gauchos' cries and the sounds of the herd being driven through the brush add to the sense of struggle and perseverance. The chorus, urging a friend to grab the lasso while the cattle are still alive, underscores the urgency and danger posed by the relentless floodwaters that threaten the pasture and the livelihood of the gauchos.

Amidst these trials, the song also touches on themes of longing and connection to home. The repeated refrain of missing a loved one and the simple, yet poignant, updates about the animals back home—such as a pregnant mare, a fattened pig, and a free-roaming bay horse—highlight the gaucho's deep ties to his land and family. The mention of the "peste medonha" (terrible plague) and the fever it brings to the cattle further emphasizes the relentless challenges faced by those who live and work on the pampas. The song concludes with a sense of hope and faith, as the gaucho looks forward to Holy Week and the chance to see his loved ones again, despite the ongoing hardships.