De cruzada

Lisandro Amaral's song 'De cruzada' is a poignant exploration of nostalgia, identity, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a rural landscape in São Martin, where the singer sees a part of himself lost in another era. This setting, once a home, now stands as a symbol of waiting and poetic agony. The imagery of the quincha (a type of traditional rural house) and the crumbling mud walls evoke a sense of decay and the inevitable return to the earth, reflecting on the transient nature of life and the enduring connection to one's roots.

The song delves into the personal journey of the singer, who describes himself as coming 'de cruzada,' or on a crusade, wearing down his sandals (nazarenas) and carrying the same sorrows as his crumbling home. This metaphorical crusade represents a life of hardship and wandering, yet it is through singing that he finds a sense of universality and transcendence. The act of singing becomes a way to connect with the universe and find solace amidst the decay and loss.

Amaral's lyrics also touch on the theme of memory and the past. The scenes that open his consciousness to the past stop the world on the other side, in the homeland of those who have departed. The sincerity of sharing a mate (a traditional South American drink) without pretense becomes a metaphor for genuine connection and reflection. The song concludes with a hopeful note, envisioning a time when the singer will find his era without the absence in his gaze, happily playing his guitar in a vast sky without ruins. This ending suggests a reconciliation with the past and a peaceful acceptance of life's cyclical nature.