Monte Chaqueño

Mercedes Sosa's song "Monte Chaqueño" is a poignant tribute to the Chaco forest and the lives intertwined with it. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the natural environment, with the alertness of the blackbirds and the gleaming axes cutting through the mist. The falling red trunks symbolize the relentless deforestation, pressing upon the trails of the pumas, the forest's elusive inhabitants. This imagery evokes a sense of loss and the encroachment of human activity on the natural world.

The song delves deeper into the mystical aspects of the forest, referring to the 'misterios del teuco'—a term that could be interpreted as the hidden secrets or spirits of the forest paths. These mysteries are brought to life by the sun, suggesting a cyclical renewal and the enduring presence of nature despite human intervention. The day's end is marked by a song, born from the warmth of alcohol, hinting at the solace and camaraderie found in shared hardships and the simple pleasures that punctuate a laborious life.

Sosa's lyrics also capture the haunting sounds of the forest: the music of the wind, the night’s lament, and the cries of exhaustion from the quebracho trees, which are often harvested for their hard wood. The 'magro funeral' or meager funeral signifies the scant recognition of the workers' toil and the forest's slow demise. The Chaco moon illuminates a reproach, highlighting the human cost of labor in the obrajal, or logging camp. The imagery of a man dying by his own hands in the darkness underscores the profound sense of despair and the harsh realities faced by those who work in these unforgiving conditions.