Enfunda La Mandolina

Carlos Gardel's song 'Enfunda La Mandolina' is a poignant reflection on aging and the inevitable passage of time. The lyrics tell the story of a man, Cipriano, who is being advised to accept that his youthful days of romance and adventure are over. The song opens with a call to 'archive the illusions' and to 'balconearla,' suggesting that Cipriano should now be a spectator rather than an active participant in life's romantic escapades. The imagery of him waiting for a woman with the 'pinta de un Mateo desalquilao y tristón' (the look of a sad, unoccupied carriage) underscores his loneliness and the futility of his hopes.

The song continues to emphasize the theme of aging by pointing out that Cipriano's fifty years have taken their toll. His hair is thinning, and his youthful charm has faded. The advice to 'deja las pebetas para los muchachos' (leave the young girls for the young men) and to 'andate a la cama' (go to bed) instead of staying up late, highlights the physical limitations that come with age. The lyrics are both tender and brutally honest, capturing the bittersweet reality of growing old.

In the final verses, the song advises Cipriano to 'enfunda la mandolina' (put away the mandolin), symbolizing the end of his serenading days. The 'chiruza' (a term for a young woman) in his life suggests this, indicating that even his romantic interests see him as past his prime. The imagery of 'ganar cuartel de invierno' (retreat to winter quarters) and 'junto al fuego de tus recuerdos' (by the fire of your memories) paints a picture of a man who must now find solace in his past rather than seeking new adventures. Gardel's song is a touching and melancholic ode to the inevitability of aging and the importance of accepting one's place in the cycle of life.