Los Laureles

The song 'Los Laureles,' performed by Linda Ronstadt, is a traditional Mexican ranchera that expresses deep emotion and longing. The lyrics speak of the beauty of nature, using it as a metaphor for the intense feelings of love and the pain of potential rejection. The opening lines reference green laurel leaves and bright roses, symbolizing the vibrancy and life in the relationship. However, there is a plea not to be abandoned, suggesting that the love is so integral to the singer's existence that losing it would be akin to losing life itself.

The song continues with metaphors comparing the object of the singer's affection to a cotton plant in its bud and a rose that blooms only in May, highlighting the delicacy and rarity of their love. The mention of pride and the intertwining of hearts suggests a deep connection that is threatened by the possibility of pride and external commitments. The singer contemplates making an invitation, presumably to deepen the relationship, but hesitates due to uncertainty about whether there is someone else in the beloved's life.

The final stanza serves as a farewell, acknowledging the pain that love can bring. The phrase 'La perdicion de los hombres son las benditas mujeres' translates to 'The downfall of men are the blessed women,' reflecting a cultural sentiment about the power women hold in matters of the heart. The song concludes with a somber acceptance of the situation, as the singer ends the verses of 'Los Laureles.' Linda Ronstadt's rendition of this traditional song is filled with emotion, her powerful voice conveying the depth of the lyrics and connecting with the universal themes of love, longing, and the complexity of human relationships.