Derrumbe

Jorge Drexler's song 'Derrumbe,' which translates to 'Collapse' in English, is a poignant exploration of the end of a relationship and the emotional aftermath that follows. The lyrics use the metaphor of a house of cards to represent the fragile nature of love and how a single action can lead to its downfall. The imagery of a card being pulled and causing the castle to fall encapsulates the idea that sometimes, a seemingly small issue or mistake can have catastrophic consequences for a relationship.

The song continues to describe the desolation left behind as the relationship crumbles. The absence of shelter ('Quedamos a la intemperie') suggests a feeling of vulnerability and exposure, as the protective layers of the relationship are stripped away. The reference to the seasons changing and becoming expensive ('No quedó ni una primavera / Que de golpe no se hubiera vuelto cara') could symbolize the loss of joy and the increased emotional cost that comes with the end of love.

Drexler's use of vivid imagery to describe the collapse ('La casa era endeble, el techo se hunde') and the list of items falling apart, including personal and shared belongings, emphasizes the totality of the loss. The mention of 'los hijos, los besos, los cuernos' (the children, the kisses, the horns) indicates that the relationship's breakdown affects not just the couple but also their family and the trust they had. The repetition of the initial metaphor at the end of the song serves to reinforce the central theme of the fragility of relationships and the profound impact of their dissolution.