Ojos Azules

The song 'Ojos Azules,' performed by Inti-Illimani, is a traditional Andean folk song that has been covered by various artists over the years. Inti-Illimani, a group known for their Andean music and instruments, brings a poignant interpretation to this classic. The lyrics of 'Ojos Azules' tell a story of unrequited love and the pain of betrayal. The repeated refrain 'Ojos azules no llores, no llores ni te enamores' translates to 'Blue eyes, don't cry, don't cry nor fall in love,' suggesting a warning against the dangers of love and the hurt it can bring.

The song continues to describe the sorrow that will come 'when I leave, when there is no remedy.' This line indicates a sense of inevitability and resignation to the end of a relationship. The person with blue eyes is forewarned that they will cry when the singer is gone, highlighting the depth of their eventual loss. The betrayal is further emphasized by the lover's broken promise to cherish the singer for a lifetime, only to leave shortly after. This narrative captures the universal theme of the pain associated with love and the feeling of abandonment.

The final verses of the song express a desire to drink poison from a cup of wine, symbolizing a wish to end the suffering or to forget the unfaithful lover. This metaphor for wanting to escape the emotional torment is a powerful and dramatic conclusion to the song. The use of 'veneno' (poison) to represent the wish to either die or forget the pain of love is a stark illustration of the intensity of the heartache felt by the singer.