Atacama

Los Jaivas' song "Atacama" is a poetic exploration of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth, located in Chile. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the desert's mystical and spiritual essence, blending natural imagery with cultural references. The song opens with the Southern Cross appearing unexpectedly, symbolizing guidance and navigation in the vast, open sky. The Milky Way is described as a centipede, emphasizing its sprawling, almost otherworldly presence. The stars are personified, wandering the hills and descending to the springs when thirsty, suggesting a deep connection between the celestial and terrestrial realms.

The song delves into the idea that in the Atacama, words lose their meaning, and the senses are heightened in unique ways. The desert is portrayed as a place where the sky feels closer, and the indigenous people revere the mountains as sacred altars. This reverence for nature and the cosmos is a central theme, highlighting the spiritual significance of the landscape. The mention of Pachamama, the Andean earth goddess, and the full moon resembling a salt flat, further roots the song in indigenous beliefs and the natural world.

As the song progresses, it touches on themes of life, death, and the search for meaning. The desert is depicted as a repository of mysteries, where the secrets of life might be uncovered. The imagery of eagle eyes shining like stars and bodies wandering the hills in search of the Southern Cross adds a sense of quest and discovery. However, the song also addresses the harsh realities of life in the desert, with references to hunger and aimlessness. The final lines reflect a sense of disorientation and uncertainty about the future, both for humanity and the Earth itself, under the ever-watchful Southern Cross.