El Tercio de Los Sueños

Andrés Calamaro's song "El Tercio de Los Sueños" is a poignant exploration of unrequited love and the passage of time, set against the backdrop of a bullfighting arena. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man who is deeply infatuated with a woman, but she only has eyes for a young bullfighter. The imagery of the bullring, a place of both glory and danger, serves as a powerful metaphor for the man's emotional turmoil and the end of his dreams.

The song opens with the protagonist noticing the woman's unattractive dress, yet he is still captivated by her. He tries to get her attention, but she is fixated on the matador. This unreciprocated affection is symbolized by the phrase "El tercio de los sueños ya se había terminado para mí" (The third of dreams had already ended for me), indicating that his hopes and dreams have come to an end. The reference to the time, "son las siete de la tarde aquí en España" (it's seven in the evening here in Spain), adds a sense of immediacy and reality to his heartbreak.

As the song progresses, the protagonist reflects on how this particular day at the bullfight is different from others. He usually enjoys the event calmly, but this time, his emotions are stirred by the woman's presence. He even contemplates entering the bullring himself to win her favor, a drastic measure that underscores his desperation. The lyrics also touch on themes of aging and lost youth, as he feels he is growing old quickly since he left his wild years behind for her.

The final verses introduce a darker tone, with the metaphor of a man caught in a spider's web and devoured by a praying mantis, symbolizing the destructive nature of his unrequited love. The song ends on a somber note, emphasizing the inevitability of his unfulfilled desires and the harsh reality of his situation.