Nana de Los Peces Muertos

Enrique Bunbury's song "Nana de Los Peces Muertos" (Lullaby of the Dead Fish) is a poignant and metaphorical exploration of apathy, loss, and the inevitability of death. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of fish in a river that appear to be asleep but are, in fact, dead. This imagery serves as a powerful metaphor for people who are alive but have lost their sense of purpose or direction, floating aimlessly through life without truly living.

The repeated lines, "No me escuchan cuando les digo: Despertad, ha salido ya el sol" (They don't listen when I tell them: Wake up, the sun has already risen), highlight a sense of frustration and helplessness. The speaker is trying to awaken the fish, or perhaps people, to the beauty and opportunities of life, but their efforts are in vain. The fish are carried away by the current, symbolizing how individuals can be swept away by the flow of life without actively participating in it.

The song also touches on themes of familial connection and the cycle of life and death. The fish are carried to the sea, where their relatives await them, suggesting a return to one's origins or a reunion in the afterlife. The phrase "Panza arriba, se olvidaron de nadar" (Belly up, they forgot to swim) underscores the idea that these fish, or people, have given up on the struggle to live, succumbing to the inevitability of death. Bunbury's melancholic tone and evocative lyrics invite listeners to reflect on their own lives and the importance of staying engaged and purposeful.