Sueño de Morocha En Conventillo

La Chicana's song "Sueño de Morocha En Conventillo" paints a vivid picture of life in a conventillo, a type of communal housing common in Argentina. The lyrics are rich with imagery and characters, each representing different facets of life and dreams within this shared space. The song opens with a chaotic yet familiar scene: a parrot that barks, a searching dog, and a hidden cat. This surreal setting sets the stage for the dreams and struggles of the inhabitants.

The song introduces us to a young boy who dreams of becoming an unknown soldier, symbolizing a desire for recognition and heroism amidst the anonymity of the conventillo. The presence of a broken Italian (tano) and a defeated Spaniard (gaita) who drown their sorrows in bitter mate tea highlights the shared sense of loss and longing. Despite their differences, they are united by a common lost love and the soothing strains of a waltz on the radio, suggesting that music and shared experiences can bridge divides.

The central figure, a woman in the courtyard, moves like a bee among flowers, kissing some and ignoring others. This imagery evokes a sense of fleeting beauty and the transient nature of life. The narrator's reflections on time, feeling both young and old, and the blending of the old with the new, underscore the timelessness of human emotions and experiences. The song concludes with a poignant scene of the narrator's grandfather, lost in memories and forbidden pleasures, and the narrator's own longing to be entangled in the woman's hair, seeking solace and escape in her presence. Through its rich tapestry of characters and emotions, "Sueño de Morocha En Conventillo" captures the essence of communal life, dreams, and the passage of time.