En Mi Viejo San Juan

José Feliciano's song 'En Mi Viejo San Juan' is a heartfelt ode to his homeland, Puerto Rico, specifically the city of San Juan. The lyrics are imbued with a deep sense of nostalgia and longing for the place where he spent his formative years. The song opens with the artist reminiscing about his childhood dreams and first experiences of love, which are deeply rooted in the memories of San Juan. These early experiences are described as 'recuerdos del alma' or 'memories of the soul,' indicating their profound impact on his identity and emotional landscape.

As the song progresses, Feliciano narrates his departure from San Juan to a foreign land, driven by destiny. Despite the physical distance, his heart remains anchored in his beloved city, symbolized by the line 'mi corazón se quedó frente al mar.' This metaphor of the heart staying by the sea captures the enduring connection he feels to San Juan, even as he bids farewell to 'Borinquen querida,' a term of endearment for Puerto Rico. The repeated farewells and promises to return underscore the emotional weight of leaving behind a cherished homeland.

The latter part of the song reflects on the passage of time and the unfulfilled desire to return. Feliciano's hair has turned white, and he faces the inevitability of death, yet his yearning to reunite with San Juan remains undiminished. The lyrics convey a poignant sense of loss and the cruel twist of fate that has kept him away from 'pedacito de patria,' or 'little piece of homeland.' The song closes with a reiteration of his dream to return and relive the joys of his youth in San Juan, encapsulating a universal theme of longing for one's roots and the places that shape our earliest and most cherished memories.