Tiempo (feat. Marco Antonio Muñiz)
José José
The Bittersweet March of Time in José José's 'Tiempo'
José José's song 'Tiempo,' featuring Marco Antonio Muñiz, is a poignant reflection on the nature of time and its impact on love and life. The lyrics explore the wisdom of understanding when to love and when to let go, suggesting that there is an appropriate time for the different phases of a relationship. The refrain 'Dar tiempo al tiempo,' which translates to 'give time time,' implies that time itself has a healing power, capable of alleviating both love and pain.
The narrator expresses regret over a love that was pursued 'a destiempo,' or at the wrong time, which caused prolonged suffering. This experience taught the narrator the value of time, often referred to as 'oro' (gold), highlighting its preciousness. The lamentation over wasted time is a central theme, as the narrator acknowledges the folly of not recognizing the importance of time sooner. The repeated line 'Cuánto tiempo perdí' ('How much time I lost') underscores the sense of loss and yearning for the past.
In the final verses, the narrator, now seemingly out of time for love, looks back with nostalgia at the past loves and the 'dicha inicua' (unjust happiness) of wasting time. This paradoxical phrase captures the bittersweet nature of reminiscing about times when one could afford to lose track of time in love. The song, therefore, is not just about love but also about the passage of time and the wisdom gained through life's experiences. José José, known for his emotive singing style, delivers these themes with a sense of melancholy and introspection that is characteristic of his music.