Madreselva

The song 'Madreselva,' performed by the legendary Carlos Gardel, is a poignant reflection on love, nostalgia, and the passage of time. Gardel, known for his deep, emotive voice and as one of the most prominent figures in the history of tango, delivers the lyrics with a sense of longing and melancholy that is characteristic of the genre.

The lyrics of 'Madreselva' use the image of the honeysuckle (madreselva in Spanish) growing on an old wall in the neighborhood as a metaphor for the singer's first love and the innocence of youth. The wall and the honeysuckle witnessed the singer's first love, and their humble caress is likened to the cherished and remembered first love. As the honeysuckle flowers return each year, the singer questions why their first love cannot return in the same way. This juxtaposition of the perennial nature of the plant with the fleeting nature of love underscores the theme of enduring memories amidst life's changes.

As the song progresses, it reveals the singer's disillusionment with life and love. The singer has learned that to live 'decently,' one must pretend, suggesting that authenticity and sincerity have been replaced by cynicism. The song's narrative arc, from the innocence of a first love to the bitterness of life's lessons, is a powerful commentary on the human condition. The wall serves as a confidant to the singer's sorrows, a silent witness to both the joys of first love and the pain of disillusionment.