Silencio

The song "Silencio" by Carlos Gardel, a prominent figure in the tango genre, is a poignant narrative that delves into the themes of war, motherhood, and the cyclical nature of life and hope. The lyrics paint a picture of the quiet of the night, a time when the hustle of the day gives way to rest and reflection. The opening verses introduce a mother singing a lullaby to her child, a symbol of innocence and the future. This lullaby is not just a song to soothe the child but also a vessel of the mother's dreams and aspirations for her offspring.

As the song progresses, it recounts the story of an elderly woman who was once a mother to five sons, whom she sent off to work each day with love and affection. However, the narrative takes a tragic turn as it describes the outbreak of war, with a bugle sounding the alarm that the homeland is in danger. The sons go off to fight, and the battlefield is depicted as a place of death, with the blood of soldiers staining the fields of France. The aftermath of the war leaves the mother alone, her sons turned into heroes, each represented by a medal awarded posthumously by the nation they served.

The final verses return to the theme of silence and calm, but with a bittersweet twist. The mother's solitude is contrasted with the sound of other mothers singing lullabies to their children, suggesting a renewal of life and the continuation of hope despite past tragedies. The song ends with an emphasis on the silence in the night and in the souls of those who have experienced loss, implying a deep, unspoken sorrow that lingers long after the conflict has ended.