Las Moscas

Joan Manuel Serrat's song "Las Moscas" is a poetic reflection on the omnipresence of flies throughout different stages of life. The lyrics personify flies as familiar, inevitable, and gluttonous creatures that evoke memories and experiences from the artist's past. Serrat uses the flies as a metaphor for the persistent and often overlooked elements of life that accompany us through various phases, from childhood to adulthood.

The song begins by addressing the flies directly, acknowledging their vulgarity and their ability to evoke a wide range of memories. Serrat describes the flies as old and voracious, likening them to bees in April, and reminisces about their presence during his childhood. The flies are depicted as constant companions, present during moments of boredom in the family living room, during the clear summer nights when dreams began to form, and even in the despised school where they provided a fleeting distraction.

Serrat's lyrics also touch on the flies' presence in more intimate and significant moments, such as resting on enchanted toys, closed books, love letters, and the eyelids of the dead. The flies, though not as industrious as bees or as beautiful as butterflies, are portrayed as small, restless friends that evoke a sense of nostalgia and a connection to the past. Through this metaphor, Serrat captures the essence of life's persistent and often unnoticed details that shape our experiences and memories.