La Reina Batata

The song "La Reina Batata" by María Elena Walsh is a whimsical and imaginative children's song that tells the story of a potato queen sitting on a silver plate. The lyrics, while simple, playfully engage with the idea of fear and relief through the perspective of an anthropomorphized potato. The potato queen is initially threatened by a cook, which causes her to tremble in fear, thinking she will be pricked and killed. The cook's indecision and grumpy threats add a layer of tension to the narrative.

However, the story takes a turn when a young girl from the house arrives. She finds the potato queen on the floor, where she had rolled away in fear, and places her on a makeshift throne made of tin. This act transforms the potato's fate from being an ingredient in a dish to being treated like royalty by the child. The song concludes with the potato queen sprouting a little green tail, symbolizing new life and growth, which is a playful twist as it's something that potatoes do when they begin to sprout. The song ends on this light-hearted note, emphasizing the innocence and creativity of children's imagination.

María Elena Walsh was an Argentine poet, writer, musician, and playwright, renowned for her works for children. Her songs often contain humor, fantasy, and a gentle critique of the adult world, which is evident in "La Reina Batata." The song uses a story about a potato to entertain while subtly commenting on the power of innocence and the importance of seeing the world through a child's eyes.