Canción de Cuna Para Un Gitano

José Luis Perales' song "Canción de Cuna Para Un Gitano" tells a poignant story of a young gypsy woman who experiences the harsh realities of life and love. The song begins with her innocent childhood, where she attends school and dreams of fairy tales, drawing pictures of a house with a garden and a prince charming. However, her idyllic dreams are soon overshadowed by the struggles of her reality. She stops going to school and learns to sing lullabies, a metaphor for her transition from childhood innocence to the responsibilities and hardships of adult life.

As the song progresses, the gypsy woman is depicted as being left alone, crying and singing lullabies to her absent lover. The repeated phrase "Duérmete mi rey" (Sleep, my king) highlights her longing and sorrow. She clings to a photograph of her lover, questioning why he left her alone. This imagery of a half-empty bed and her solitary cries paints a vivid picture of abandonment and heartache. The lullabies she sings are not just for a child but also for herself, a way to cope with her loneliness and pain.

In the final verses, the woman is seen searching for her lost love, going from door to door with the photograph in hand. She reminisces about the life they shared, the home they built, and the warmth of their love. The song ends with her still singing the lullaby, a haunting reminder of her unfulfilled dreams and the enduring pain of her loss. Perales' evocative lyrics and melancholic melody capture the essence of longing, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of heartache.