El Forastero

Luis Felipe Gonzalez's song "El Forastero" delves into the emotional turmoil and heartache experienced by a local man who feels betrayed by his beloved. The song paints a vivid picture of a small village where a young woman, referred to as the 'flower of the town,' ventures to the river at night to gather firewood. This seemingly innocent act is laden with foreboding, as the community anticipates a dark turn of events.

The lyrics reveal the local man's deep affection for the woman and his growing anxiety over her interactions with an outsider, the 'forastero.' He questions why she would seek firewood by the river, knowing that the outsider would be there. This outsider represents a threat to the local man's love, as he fears losing her to someone who is not from their community. The repeated chorus, "Qué malo es el forastero," emphasizes the man's disdain and mistrust towards the outsider, whom he blames for stealing his beloved's affection.

The song captures the essence of jealousy and the pain of unrequited love. The local man's plea for the woman to forget him by dawn underscores his sense of betrayal and the finality of their relationship. Gonzalez's poignant lyrics and emotive delivery convey the universal themes of love, loss, and the fear of the unknown, making "El Forastero" a powerful narrative of human emotions and social dynamics within a close-knit community.