Para Variar

Patricio Manns' song 'Para Variar,' performed by Gloria Simonetti at the Viña del Mar Song Festival in 2005, delves into the recurring themes of love, loss, and the inevitable cycles of life. The title itself, which translates to 'For a Change,' is laced with irony, as the lyrics reveal a pattern of repeated heartbreak and disillusionment. Manns, a renowned Chilean singer-songwriter and poet, is known for his poignant and often melancholic reflections on human experiences, and 'Para Variar' is no exception.

The song opens with the narrator reflecting on a love that turned into hatred. The imagery of 'closing clear eyes' and being trapped in darkness suggests a profound sense of betrayal and confusion. This darkness is not just literal but metaphorical, representing the emotional turmoil and the 'certain darkness' that imprisons the narrator. The repetition of 'para variar' underscores the inevitability and familiarity of this pain, as if it is a recurring theme in the narrator's life.

As the song progresses, the narrator recounts how their lover left without a word, taking away the sea, the moon, and the tides—symbols of beauty, constancy, and emotional rhythm. This departure leaves the narrator in a state of desolation, highlighted by the 'most bloody twilight light,' a vivid metaphor for the intense and painful end of a relationship. The sense of loss is palpable, and the repetition of 'para variar' emphasizes the cyclical nature of such experiences.

In the final verses, the narrator laments the wounds inflicted by life itself, describing a 'grim wound in reason' and the erasure of a bleeding tattoo, symbolizing a deep and lasting emotional scar. The lover's departure is swift and unceremonious, leaving the narrator bewildered and unable to hold onto their 'voracious passion.' The descriptors 'tender and fertile,' 'sweet and talkative,' 'blind and fleeting' paint a picture of a love that was intense and multifaceted but ultimately ephemeral. The song captures the essence of human vulnerability and the relentless cycles of love and loss, making it a poignant reflection on the human condition.