Huapango Torero

The song 'Huapango Torero' by Lola Beltrán is a poignant narrative that tells the story of a young boy's tragic encounter with the world of bullfighting. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a child, sitting outside the bullring, crying silently. His tears are those of a bullfighter, and he uses his small cape, or 'muletilla,' to wipe them away. This imagery suggests a deep connection to the bullfighting tradition, as well as a sense of longing to be part of it.

As the night falls and the stars begin to take their place in the sky, the boy, driven by determination, heads towards the corrals where the bulls are kept. In a moment of silence, with the ranch hands asleep, he attempts to fight a bull by the light of the moon. The lyrics then take a dark turn, as the beautiful night witnesses a tragedy. White doves, or rather white handkerchiefs, symbolize the mourning of the boy's death, indicating that his attempt to fight the bull has ended fatally.

The song concludes with a curse upon the 'murderous bull,' wishing it to be taken by the devil. The silence that follows is broken by the weeping of the ranch hands, who are now mourning the loss of the young boy. 'Huapango Torero' is a lamentation of the dangers of bullfighting and a critique of the romanticization of the bullfighter's life, which can often lead to tragic consequences.