Por Pasármelo Tomando (ou Por Pa...)

Violeta Parra's song "Por Pasármelo Tomando (ou Por Pa...)" is a poignant reflection on the consequences of a life spent indulging in alcohol. The song, written in the traditional Chilean cueca style, uses fragmented and repetitive lyrics to convey the disjointed and often chaotic nature of a life marred by excessive drinking. The opening lines, "Por pa... por pasármelo toman... (la vida) me pe... me pegaron en pato..." suggest that the narrator's life has been significantly impacted by their drinking habits, leading to physical altercations and theft.

The song continues to describe the narrator's misfortunes, including being robbed of their money and clothes. The repetition of phrases like "me ro... me robaron la guita..." and "la camisa y las... la camisa y las ojo..." emphasizes the ongoing and relentless nature of these hardships. The advice from others to stop drinking, "De valde me aconse... (caramba) que dejé el vi..." falls on deaf ears, as the narrator admits to being "sordo como ta... (caramba) de los cami..." or deaf to the advice given.

As the song progresses, the narrator reflects on the deeper consequences of their actions. They find themselves lost, without money, and feeling old, sad, and unattractive, as expressed in the lines "Sin plata en el bolsi... Triste, pobre, viejo y fe...". The final lines, "Ahora soy pajarí... Caramba sin arbolí..." metaphorically describe the narrator as a bird without a tree, symbolizing a sense of rootlessness and lack of stability. Violeta Parra's use of traditional musical forms and her poignant, fragmented lyrics create a powerful narrative about the personal and social costs of alcoholism.