Cruel

Los Piojos' song 'Cruel' paints a vivid picture of a harsh and unforgiving world. The lyrics open with a stark depiction of a 'cruel world' and a 'cruel night,' setting a somber tone. The city is described as 'dormida y sin sueños' (asleep and without dreams), suggesting a place devoid of hope and vitality. The imagery of a final kiss and a smile before parting ways underscores a sense of inevitable separation and loss, hinting at the transient nature of human connections in such a bleak environment.

The repeated lines 'Nunca te vi en ningún aviso / Nunca te vi en la televisión / Nunca te vi en ningún diario / Nunca nunca nunca escuché tu voz' (I never saw you in any ad / I never saw you on television / I never saw you in any newspaper / I never never never heard your voice) emphasize the anonymity and invisibility of the individual in a vast, indifferent society. This anonymity is further highlighted by the lines 'Lavan tu razón / Queman tu corazón' (They wash your reason / They burn your heart), suggesting a systematic erasure of personal identity and emotional depth.

As the song progresses, the narrator expresses a desire to wake up from this 'pesadilla de ilusiones' (nightmare of illusions), indicating a longing for genuine experiences and emotions. The haunting refrain 'Somos fantasmas peleándole al viento' (We are ghosts fighting the wind) encapsulates the futility and despair of struggling against an unchangeable reality. The song's melancholic tone and poignant lyrics resonate deeply, reflecting the band's ability to capture the essence of human vulnerability and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world.