Bendito Veneno

Joaquín Sabina's 'Bendito Veneno' is a poetic exploration of love's intoxicating effects, using vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the depth of emotion and transformation that love can bring. The song begins with the narrator asking for the key to the 'garden of her mouth,' a metaphor for gaining intimate access to someone's affections and inner world. The woman's response suggests she is selective and doesn't give her love lightly, only kissing 'when it's her turn,' implying a sense of fate or destiny in their connection.

The phrase 'bendito veneno,' which translates to 'blessed poison,' captures the duality of love as both a cure and an affliction. The narrator describes how Cupid, the Roman god of love, abandoned his home to strike them with arrows, symbolizing the sudden and overwhelming onset of love. The song continues to describe the transformative power of love, how a promise of one night turned into a thousand, and how the narrator found a permanent home in a mole on her back, signifying a deep and lasting bond.

The final verses of the song depict the couple's escape from the 'country of routine,' suggesting that their love has taken them to a place beyond the mundane. The imagery of a carriage ride to the 'corner of love' and the request to be taken 'abroad' evokes a sense of adventure and escape, reinforcing the theme of love as a journey that transcends the ordinary. Sabina's lyrical style, often characterized by its romanticism and wit, shines through in this song, painting a picture of love as a potent, life-altering force.