Yo Queria Ser Mayor
Roque Narvaja
The Journey from Youthful Dreams to Disillusionment
Roque Narvaja's song "Yo Queria Ser Mayor" (I Wanted to Be Older) is a poignant reflection on the transition from youth to adulthood and the disillusionment that often accompanies it. The lyrics speak to a universal desire to grow up and the sobering realization of what adulthood truly entails.
The song begins with a nostalgic look at the past, a time of promises and disappointments, signaling a period of change. The protagonist takes a decisive step to leave his past behind, symbolized by leaving his best suit, and confronts life head-on. This act of courage represents the eagerness to embrace the responsibilities and experiences of being an adult. The repeated line "Yo queria ser mayor" underscores the longing for maturity and the belief that being older equates to being more capable and less prone to childish frustrations.
However, as the song progresses, the tone shifts from aspiration to regret. The protagonist learns to be discreet, calm, and accommodating, but at the cost of his dreams. The world teaches him to conform, offering a place for vice and sin instead of the fulfillment he sought. In the end, the desire to be older is replaced with a yearning to return to the innocence of childhood, preferring the purity of a child's love over the constraints of a tamed adult life. The song captures the bittersweet realization that growing up is not all it's cracked up to be, and sometimes the wisdom of age is recognizing the value of youthful idealism.