El Niño Mudo

Quilapayún's song 'El Niño Mudo' delves into the profound and poetic journey of a child searching for his lost voice. The lyrics open with the child seeking his voice, which is held captive by the 'king of the crickets.' This metaphorical figure represents an elusive and perhaps oppressive force that has taken something essential from the child. The imagery of the child looking for his voice in a drop of water suggests a sense of purity and introspection, as water often symbolizes clarity and life.

The child’s declaration that he does not want his voice to speak but to make a ring out of it is deeply symbolic. This ring, which will carry his silence on its tiny finger, represents a personal and intimate connection with his own silence. It suggests that the child values his silence and sees it as something precious, worthy of being adorned and kept close. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the power of silence and the idea that sometimes, silence can speak louder than words.

The final lines of the song, where the captive voice is described as donning a cricket's attire, reinforce the theme of transformation and the blending of identities. The voice, now dressed as a cricket, symbolizes a change in form and perhaps a new way of being heard. Crickets are often associated with nighttime and quiet, yet their chirping is a distinct and persistent sound. This could imply that the child's voice, though transformed and silent in a conventional sense, still finds a way to make its presence known in the world.