Carlos Varela – Una Palabra lyrics

Both my daughter and I (with a difference of 40 years between us) love this song, which we first heard in “Man on Fire.” We understand a little Spanish, but we can, and do, appreciate this artistic masterpiece in either English or Spanish. It is a wonderfully simple and eloquent poem. When accompanied by Carlos Varela’s voice and instrumentation, it generates amazingly powerful emotive sentiments. Structurally, we recognize that each stanza begins with a paradoxical statement. A couple of elaborating similes or metaphors follow the opening statement of each stanza providing exquisite imagery and definition.

I will spare you, but I could easily write a lengthy essay about each line of every stanza. Instead, I will attempt to share with you what I HEAR, when I hear this song. It is a little more than a word-for-word translation, but still, I thought it worthy of sharing:

A single word, says nothing
yet, at the same time it covers and conveys everything.
Just as the wind covers the waters,
like fields of flowers, conceal the mud.

A mere glance, says nothing,
Yet, at the same time, it tells all.
Like the rain appearing on your face,
or, the ancient old map reveals hidden treasures.

A single truth, says nothing,
Yet, at the same time, it covers everything.
Like a bonfire that persists and burns on,
like a stone that lives on and gives birth to dust.

If one day you miss or lose sight of me, I will be nowhere,
and at the same, I will be everywhere.
Because in your eyes is from where I take flight, and where I return to my end.
Because in your eyes is from where I take flight, and where I return to my end. **

** (Depending on perspective, I exist because you see me, or, my existence is your eyes.)

That’s my take (not intended to be a word-for-word translation). Comments?