La Bifurcada
Memphis La Blusera
The Bittersweet Farewell of 'La Bifurcada'
The song 'La Bifurcada' by Memphis La Blusera, an Argentine blues and rock band, delves into the emotional turmoil of a breakup, but with a twist of humor and sarcasm. The lyrics portray a man speaking to his departing lover, insisting that he won't be devastated by her departure. He even goes as far as to trivialize the situation by mentioning material possessions like the television and the bed, suggesting a superficiality in their relationship or perhaps a coping mechanism to mask his true feelings.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that there is a deeper issue at hand: the woman is leaving because she is a feminist, and the man labels himself as a machista, a term used in Spanish-speaking countries to describe someone with traditional, often chauvinistic, views on gender roles. The man's dismissive attitude towards her feminist beliefs, referring to them as 'modern inventions' and 'pure stories,' reflects a lack of understanding or acceptance of her perspective. The song captures the cultural clash between traditional and progressive values, particularly in the context of gender roles and relationships.
The closing lines of the song emphasize the finality of the separation, with the man telling the woman to 'walk in the shade and close the gate well.' This could symbolize the end of their shared path and the beginning of their separate journeys. The song uses the breakup narrative to comment on broader social issues, using a personal story to reflect societal changes and the resistance they can encounter.