Sobre La Cuerda Floja

Juan Carlos Baglietto's song 'Sobre La Cuerda Floja' delves into the life of a solitary man who lives on the edge of society. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person who has never experienced the warmth of a family or the comfort of a home. His days are spent in the monotony of office work, carrying papers and serving coffee, while his nights are spent in a dilapidated pension, haunted by ghosts and loneliness. His only companion is a cat, and he finds solace in the bottle, equating wine to love, a fleeting comfort in his desolate existence.

The song poignantly captures the man's isolation and the lack of human connection in his life. No one offers him a reason to stay, to talk, or to share a holiday. The harsh winter finds him seeking refuge in a police station, and his routine is a testament to his struggle to feel alive. He shaves and counts to a hundred each morning, a ritual to remind himself that he is as awake and eager to live as anyone else. Yet, his life is a series of small, quiet defeats, leading him to a bar where he drinks away his despair and contemplates the value of his existence.

In a moment of profound desperation, he decides that his life is no longer worth living. He takes a taxi, planning his final night as a grand celebration under the stars. The next morning, he goes through his routine one last time, sharpening a razor and preparing to end his life. The song ends with a tragic image of him closing his eyes and pressing the blade to his chest, a 'heroic coward' who finds a twisted sense of courage in his final act. 'Sobre La Cuerda Floja' is a haunting exploration of loneliness, despair, and the fragile balance of existence, capturing the profound sadness of a life lived on the edge of society.