La Llorona

The song 'La Llorona' performed by Natalia Lafourcade is a traditional Mexican folk song that has been covered by many artists over the years. The title 'La Llorona' refers to the legend of 'The Weeping Woman,' a ghostly figure in Latin American folklore who is said to wander, mourning her drowned children. Lafourcade's rendition is haunting and emotive, capturing the essence of the song's themes of loss, love, and sorrow.

The lyrics of 'La Llorona' are rich with metaphor and emotion. The opening lines speak of flowers in a holy field that seem to weep when moved by the wind, symbolizing the ever-present nature of grief. The narrator expresses a deep connection to La Llorona, calling her 'mi chunca,' a term of endearment, and stating that while they may be forced to stop loving her, they will never forget her. This speaks to the enduring nature of love and the pain of separation.

The song continues with the narrator sharing their sorrows with a 'Santo Cristo de fierro' (an iron Christ), so profound that even the statue seems to cry. This imagery suggests the depth of the narrator's pain. The lyrics also explore the themes of love and suffering, suggesting that one cannot truly understand martyrdom without experiencing love. The narrator identifies with being 'negro pero cariñoso' (black but affectionate) and 'como el Chile verde' (like green chili), spicy but tasty, indicating a sense of self-awareness and acceptance of their complex nature. The song concludes with a plea to La Llorona to take the narrator to the river and cover them with her shawl to protect them from the cold, a metaphor for seeking comfort in the face of death or despair.