Tatuaje

Concha Piquer's 'Tatuaje' is a classic Spanish song that tells a poignant story of love and loss. The lyrics describe a brief, yet intense romantic encounter between the narrator and a foreign sailor. The sailor, characterized by his blond hair and a tattoo of a heart on his chest, shares with the narrator the sorrowful tale of a past love, symbolized by a woman's name tattooed on his arm. This past love has left an indelible mark on him, both physically and emotionally, as he admits that he has been unable to forget her despite her having moved on.

The song continues to explore themes of memory and yearning. After the sailor departs, the narrator is left with a lingering kiss and an unshakeable memory of their encounter. She searches for him in vain, asking sailors in every port about his whereabouts, but to no avail. The tattoo becomes a metaphor for the permanent impact of a fleeting love, and the narrator's own unending search for the sailor mirrors the indelible mark he carries. The repetition of the act of drinking aguardiente, a strong liquor, suggests an attempt to drown the pain of unrequited love and the haunting nature of the sailor's memory.

'Tatuaje' is a deeply emotional song that resonates with anyone who has experienced the bittersweet pangs of lost love. Concha Piquer, known for her emotive delivery and her role in popularizing the genre of copla, a traditional Spanish musical form, imbues the song with a sense of melancholic nostalgia. The song's narrative, rich in maritime imagery and the symbolism of tattoos, evokes a timeless tale of love that leaves a permanent mark on the heart, much like ink on the skin.