Volver A Los 17

Mercedes Sosa's song "Volver A Los 17" is a poetic exploration of the transformative power of love and the yearning to recapture the innocence and intensity of youth. The lyrics describe the experience of feeling as if one has returned to the age of seventeen after living a century, a metaphor for rediscovering the emotional depth and vulnerability that often fades with age. This return to youth is likened to deciphering signs without being a competent sage, highlighting the mysterious and profound nature of this emotional rejuvenation.

The recurring imagery of ivy and moss growing on stone walls symbolizes the gradual and persistent nature of love and emotional growth. Just as ivy and moss slowly cover and transform their surfaces, love and deep feelings can envelop and change a person over time. The song emphasizes that these emotions are not easily understood through logic or knowledge but are instead felt deeply and instinctively, much like a child’s pure and unfiltered connection to the divine.

Sosa's lyrics also delve into the idea that love has the power to transcend and transform. It can soften the hardest hearts, liberate prisoners, and turn the old into the young. The song suggests that love's purity and sincerity can bring about profound changes, making even the most ferocious beings gentle and innocent. The final verses describe love entering like a warm morning, bringing beauty and renewal, and turning the singer's years back to seventeen. This imagery reinforces the theme of love as a magical, life-affirming force that can rejuvenate and transform one's soul.