Manuel

Joan Manuel Serrat's song 'Manuel' paints a poignant and heart-wrenching picture of a man named Manuel, born in Spain, whose life is marked by relentless hardship and sorrow. The lyrics describe Manuel's humble beginnings, living in a house made of mud and cane, and working tirelessly on the lands of a wealthy landowner. His labor is grueling, and despite his efforts, he remains impoverished, symbolized by the 'mendigo a jornal fijo' (a beggar with a fixed wage). This phrase underscores the futility of his toil, as he works for mere scraps, never able to rise above his station.

The song delves deeper into Manuel's world, which is starkly different from the landowner's. Everything around him, from the mule to the bread and wine, belongs to the master. This stark division highlights the social and economic disparities of the time. Manuel's life is one of unending labor and unfulfilled dreams, as he toils on land that will never be his. The repetition of 'le llamaban Manuel, nació en España' (they called him Manuel, he was born in Spain) serves as a somber reminder of his identity and the inescapable cycle of poverty he is trapped in.

The narrative takes a darker turn as it reveals the personal tragedies Manuel endures. His wife, who carries their child, dies, and Manuel is left to bury her with his own hands, symbolizing the burial of his dreams and hopes. The final verses describe Manuel's ultimate despair, as he is found hanging from an olive tree, a tragic end to a life of suffering. The imagery of the 'soga de esparto' (esparto rope) and the land where he is buried, now covered by wheat, poignantly captures the cycle of life and death, and the unyielding grip of poverty and despair. Serrat's 'Manuel' is a powerful commentary on social injustice, the human cost of economic disparity, and the enduring spirit of those who suffer in silence.