Querida

Joan Manuel Serrat's song 'Querida' is a poignant exploration of lost love and the deep yearning that follows. The lyrics are a heartfelt plea from the narrator to a woman, whom he addresses as 'querida' (dear), asking for her help in finding a lost love. This lost love is metaphorically described as a 'muchacha' (girl) who was once close to him, taking care of him and treating him like family. The narrator's desperation is palpable as he describes the physical and emotional toll her absence has taken on him, from his shrinking fingers to his loose pants and hallucinations.

The song is rich with metaphors and vivid imagery. The 'muchacha' represents not just a person but the warmth, care, and affection that the narrator has lost. The act of 'echando aceite en mi lamparilla' (pouring oil into my lamp) symbolizes nurturing and sustaining the light in his life. The narrator's plea to the woman to turn around and let him see her face, hoping she might be the lost love, underscores his desperation and the thin line between reality and illusion in his mind. His request to 'eche un vistazo por sus intimidades' (take a look through your intimacies) and 'prescindiendo de las formalidades' (dispensing with formalities) highlights his willingness to go to any lengths to reclaim what he has lost.

Serrat's lyrical style is both intimate and evocative, drawing the listener into the narrator's emotional turmoil. The song touches on themes of love, loss, and the human need for connection and understanding. The narrator's insistence that he is not the enemy and his readiness to negotiate a 'rescate' (ransom) for his lost love further emphasize the depth of his longing and the lengths he is willing to go to restore his happiness. 'Querida' is a beautiful and melancholic reflection on the pain of losing love and the desperate hope of finding it again.