Los Dos Alazanes

The song 'Los Dos Alazanes' by Ramón Ayala tells a dramatic story set in a small town, where two rival horsemen, each riding a chestnut horse ('alazanes'), confront each other. The tension is palpable as they exchange fiery glances, and a young boy, hidden in the grass, watches the scene unfold with fear. The song's narrative unfolds with the flipping of a coin by one of the horsemen, which will decide the fate of a woman named Carmen—presumably the boy's mother. The boy intervenes by flipping the coin in a way that saves his mother's life, setting the stage for the impending duel between the two men.

As the duel approaches, the song delves into the complex relationships between the characters. The boy, who adores his tutor, has little respect for his father, one of the horsemen. The lyrics suggest a deep internal conflict within the father, who cannot bring himself to kill his rival, knowing it would cause his son to hate him. In a twist of fate, as the men draw their weapons, the father refrains from shooting, but a gunshot is heard nonetheless. Tragically, it is the boy who is hit, having tried to intervene to save both men, sacrificing his own life in the process.

The song concludes with a heart-wrenching scene where the father, realizing his son has been shot, cries out in despair. The tutor covers the boy's chest, his face twisted in grief, while one of the horses carries away a rider with a soul now empty. 'Los Dos Alazanes' is a poignant narrative of love, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of rivalry and violence. It reflects on the themes of paternal love, the innocence of youth, and the tragic outcomes that can arise from conflicts.