Hace No Sé Qué Tiempo Ya

Silvio Rodriguez's song "Hace No Sé Qué Tiempo Ya" is a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the enduring pain of lost love. The lyrics convey a deep sense of melancholy and introspection, as the narrator grapples with the emotional void left by a past relationship. The phrase "Hace no sé qué tiempo ya" (It's been so long) is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the indefinite and seemingly endless nature of the narrator's sorrow and longing. This repetition underscores the timeless quality of heartache, suggesting that the pain of lost love can feel eternal.

The song's verses paint a vivid picture of the narrator's emotional state. He describes feeling distant from love, as if the days have grown longer and more desolate. The imagery of "sumando noches, restando sueños" (adding nights, subtracting dreams) highlights the toll that this emotional burden has taken on him. The narrator's self-reflection reveals a sense of guilt and self-blame, as he wonders if his own actions were the cause of the separation. This introspection is further deepened by the line "Nunca he servido para lo que me ha tocado" (I've never been good at what I've been given), suggesting a profound sense of inadequacy and regret.

Rodriguez's lyrical craftsmanship is evident in the contrast between the harshness of reality and the softness of dreams. The narrator's lips have "endurecido" (hardened) to the point where he can no longer speak words of love, yet his dreams remain gentle and tender. This dichotomy between the harshness of spoken words and the softness of dreams encapsulates the internal conflict of someone who is haunted by the past but still yearns for the beauty of love. The song, written in October 1969, captures a universal theme of human experience: the enduring pain of lost love and the struggle to find solace in a world that feels increasingly distant and cold.