Tres Vidas

Marcelo San Juan's song 'Tres Vidas' poignantly captures the torment of waiting and the emotional toll of absence. The lyrics describe a period of three days and nights that feel like an eternity to the narrator, who is consumed by the absence of a loved one. The repetition of 'tres días' (three days) and 'tres noches' (three nights) emphasizes the prolonged suffering and the slow passage of time when one is in emotional pain. Each minute stretches endlessly, highlighting the depth of the narrator's despair.

The song uses everyday occurrences, such as the ringing of the phone and the arrival of the mail, to illustrate the narrator's hope and subsequent disappointment. The phone rings, but it is never the awaited call; the mail arrives, but it never contains the anticipated letter. These moments of false hope serve to deepen the sense of abandonment and longing. The narrator's life is put on hold, and every small sound or movement becomes a potential sign of the loved one's return, only to result in further heartache.

'Tres Vidas' also delves into the psychological impact of waiting. The narrator describes themselves as a 'pobre sombra escondida' (poor hidden shadow) and a 'corazón infeliz' (unhappy heart), indicating a loss of identity and joy. The phrase 'contra toda esperanza' (against all hope) suggests a struggle to maintain hope despite overwhelming odds. The song's title, 'Tres Vidas' (Three Lives), metaphorically represents the three days of waiting as three lifetimes of suffering, underscoring the intensity of the narrator's emotional experience. Marcelo San Juan's evocative lyrics and melancholic tone create a vivid portrayal of the agony of waiting and the profound impact of absence on the human soul.