Un mediodía triste
Real de Catorce
Urban Despair and Existential Reflections in 'Un mediodía triste'
Real de Catorce's song 'Un mediodía triste' paints a vivid and melancholic picture of urban life, filled with existential reflections and a sense of pervasive despair. The lyrics describe a bleak midday scene, where the protagonist observes the gray back of the Metro and the oppressive heat of a voracious sun melting the asphalt. The imagery of 'dolphins' passing by like souls in torment and the wind howling thin songs sets a somber tone, suggesting a world where people are like ghosts, consorts of death, moving through life without purpose or joy.
The song continues to explore the desolation of the city, with references to a small bar and an organ grinder who appears to be a tragic figure, covered by the shadow of a blues angel. The city is depicted as a place that hides its true, grimy face in the early hours, only to reveal its full, grotesque nature as the day progresses. The afternoon is personified as a weary woman, hinting at the passage of time and the inevitable descent into night, which brings with it a sense of foreboding and danger.
The lyrics also delve into the theme of mortality, suggesting that death can come in many forms—through disease, addiction, or even in the embrace of a lover. The mention of 'dark times' and the warning to 'listen carefully to the sirens' adds to the sense of urgency and peril. The song concludes with a series of existential questions, asking who killed the night, who opened the door to this dream, and who hid in the dawn, leaving the listener to ponder the mysteries of life and death. This haunting and poetic narrative captures the essence of urban despair and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world.