Cactus

Gustavo Cerati's song 'Cactus' is a poetic exploration of love's enduring and transformative power. The lyrics use the metaphor of a cactus to represent a love that is resilient and rare, much like a cactus that blooms only once in a hundred years. The song suggests that this kind of love is worth waiting for, and when it does bloom, it is a beautiful and singular event. The mention of the cactus's skin softening the fingertips implies a tenderness that comes from something typically perceived as harsh and unforgiving.

The second verse introduces the idea of venom, which is often associated with pain or danger. However, the narrator speaks of transforming this venom into honey with the invocation of a loved one's name. This transformation symbolizes the alchemy of love, turning something bitter into something sweet. The repetition of 'En tu nombre' (In your name) emphasizes the power and significance of the beloved in the narrator's life.

The imagery of dunes becoming icebergs and birds becoming trees in the chorus serves to illustrate the profound changes that love can bring about. These lines evoke a sense of timelessness and the blurring of boundaries, suggesting that in the presence of love, the impossible becomes possible. The solitude mentioned in the song could be interpreted as the unique and solitary experience of this deep connection, or the loneliness that comes from its absence. Overall, 'Cactus' is a lyrical meditation on the rare, transformative nature of a deep and abiding love.