De Ausencias

Los Chalchaleros' song "De Ausencias" is a poignant exploration of longing, loss, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a life stretched thin over unfamiliar walls, where the soul alternates between crying out and succumbing to the numbing effects of alcohol. The vidala, a traditional Argentine folk song, serves as a metaphor for the singer's accent and voice, embodying his cultural roots and personal sorrow.

The imagery of a "potro encerrado" (a trapped colt) in "corrales de ausencia" (corrals of absence) powerfully conveys the feeling of being confined by memories and the struggle to forget past passions and experiences. The singer reflects on the many paths he has traveled and the intense emotions he has felt, now finding himself without even the shadow of his former self. The act of striking the caja, a traditional percussion instrument, symbolizes an attempt to express and perhaps exorcise his pain.

The song also delves into themes of love and separation. The farewell to a lover, marked by the memory of a handkerchief given in love, evokes a dance of hope that has since faded. The night, adorned with stars and the moon, becomes a backdrop for the singer's continued devotion, even from afar. The crickets' ancient song and the singer's memories of a lover's wild scent, skin, and voice create a tapestry of nostalgia and yearning. The final lines, describing an "arco iris de angustia" (rainbow of anguish), poignantly capture the emotional turmoil of being left without the rain and sun that once brought color to his life.