A La Sombra de Un Leon

Ana Belén's song "A La Sombra de Un Leon" tells a whimsical yet poignant story of a man who arrives in the city with a wooden sword and clown shoes, symbolizing innocence and a childlike sense of adventure. He buys a lottery ticket from Doña Manolita, a famous lottery vendor in Madrid, and whimsically invites the statue of Cibeles, a symbol of the city, to dance a waltz. This act of romanticism and fantasy highlights his desire to escape reality and find solace in his dreams, even if just for a moment.

The narrative takes a turn when it is revealed that the man is actually an inmate who has escaped from a mental institution, Ciempozuelos. Disguised as a nurse, he flees to his favorite statue and steals an engagement ring from a department store, El Corte Inglés. This act of theft is not driven by malice but by a desperate need to fulfill his romantic fantasies. The ring symbolizes his longing for love and normalcy, something he feels he can only achieve through his imaginative escapades.

The story reaches a tragic climax when the man is caught by the authorities. The statue's marble lips force him to release the ring, and he falls like a bird from a tree, symbolizing the shattering of his dreams. The scene is so moving that even a passing taxi driver is left speechless, and the statue of Cibeles is depicted as crying, adding a layer of melancholy to the tale. The song beautifully captures the tension between reality and fantasy, highlighting the lengths to which people will go to escape their harsh realities and find a moment of happiness.