¿Qué hago ahora?

Silvio Rodriguez's song "¿Qué hago ahora?" delves deep into the emotional turmoil of love, loss, and existential questioning. The lyrics are a poignant exploration of the narrator's journey through life, marked by a relentless search for meaning and connection. Rodriguez's poetic language and evocative imagery paint a vivid picture of a soul grappling with profound questions about existence and the human condition.

The song opens with the narrator questioning where to place the discoveries made in various aspects of life—streets, books, nights, and faces. This search culminates in the discovery of a significant other, yet it brings forth a new set of dilemmas. The narrator's existential musings extend to conversations with death, which has become a familiar presence, and the hollow glory of solitude. These reflections highlight the narrator's deep sense of isolation and the struggle to find genuine companionship and meaning.

Rodriguez further explores the theme of loneliness through metaphors involving dogs, the moon, and pigeons. The dogs symbolize loyal companions during lost nights, while the moon represents a false sense of companionship. The pigeons, once communicative, now remain silent, symbolizing the narrator's disconnection from the world. The repeated question, "¿Qué hago ahora contigo?" (What do I do with you now?), underscores the narrator's confusion and helplessness in dealing with newfound love and the accompanying emotional upheaval. The song's closing lines poignantly encapsulate the narrator's realization that the beloved has become an integral part of everything—nights, dogs, the moon, and friends—yet the question of how to navigate this new reality remains unanswered.