El pescante

Homero Manzi's song 'El pescante' is a poignant exploration of nostalgia, resilience, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a bygone era, where the protagonist, a coachman, navigates the streets of Buenos Aires. The imagery of 'yunta oscura trotando en la noche' (dark pair trotting in the night) and 'latigazo de alarde burlón' (boastful whip crack) sets a melancholic tone, reflecting the coachman's pride and the fading glory of his profession.

The song delves into themes of memory and loss, as the coachman reminisces about his past adventures and loves. The refrain '¡Vamos!... cargao con sombra y recuerdo' (Let's go!... loaded with shadow and memory) underscores the weight of his memories and the inevitability of moving forward despite the burden of the past. The mention of 'René' and 'una locura de amor y suissé' (a madness of love and Swiss) hints at a specific, perhaps romantic, memory that stands out among the coachman's experiences, adding a layer of personal history to the narrative.

As the song progresses, the imagery shifts to a more somber tone with 'Tungo flaco tranqueando en la tarde' (skinny horse plodding in the afternoon) and 'Fracasado en su último alarde' (failed in his last boast). This transition reflects the decline of the coachman's once-vibrant life, now marked by exhaustion and disillusionment. The final lines, 'pues no quedan ni amor ni viajeros para el coche de su corazón' (for there are no longer love or travelers for the carriage of his heart), encapsulate the sense of abandonment and the end of an era, leaving the coachman to confront the reality of his solitude and the passage of time.