Palimpsesto

Patricio Manns' song 'Palimpsesto' is a profound and poetic exploration of the themes of love, freedom, and struggle. Dedicated to Joan Manuel Serrat, the song weaves a rich tapestry of metaphors and imagery to convey its message. The term 'palimpsesto' itself refers to a manuscript page that has been scraped off and used again, symbolizing the layers of history and memory that shape our present and future.

The lyrics speak to a deep, almost primordial love that exists 'in the profound pulp of pre-dream.' This love is intertwined with the struggle for freedom, as seen in the lines 'when the glacier reconverts to the sun' and 'Libertad Osuna, I dream of you plowing in iron and wise scourge.' The glacier melting into the sun can be seen as a metaphor for transformation and renewal, while the act of plowing in iron suggests a relentless, almost painful effort to cultivate freedom.

Manns also delves into the personal and collective memory of oppression and resistance. The repeated references to 'Libertad Osuna' serve as a personification of freedom, a figure who embodies both the pain and the hope of liberation. The song speaks to the 'hunger' for freedom and the 'injury' that comes with the struggle, yet it also holds a vision of unity and resilience. The closing lines, 'if our desire is to burn in every moon and we must walk it together land to land, let freedom unite us in the roots,' encapsulate the enduring spirit of solidarity and the unbreakable bond between love and freedom.

'Palimpsesto' is not just a song; it is a poetic manifesto that calls for a continuous, collective effort to achieve and sustain freedom. It reminds us that the struggle for liberation is both a personal and communal journey, deeply rooted in love and memory.