La Guillermina

Susana Baca's song "La Guillermina" is a poignant exploration of memory, longing, and the passage of time. The song begins with a vivid recollection of a moment from the narrator's youth, when Guillermina, a figure shrouded in mystery and nostalgia, enters their life. The imagery of the sun and stars entering with Guillermina suggests that she brought light and wonder into the narrator's world. This moment is set in Temuco, and the narrator, at fourteen, describes themselves as proudly dark, thin, and ceremonious, hinting at a sense of identity and self-awareness even at a young age.

As the song progresses, the narrator reflects on the slow passage of impure years, filled with wandering and searching. The repetition of the question "Ay dónde estará la guillermina?" underscores a deep sense of longing and the unresolved nature of Guillermina's fate. The narrator's journey is marked by hardship and resilience, as they move from cloud to cloud, land to land, and eye to eye, digesting the thorns of life. The rain at the border, falling with the same attire, symbolizes the constancy of certain struggles despite the passage of time.

The song's narrative arc conveys a life of continuous struggle and renewal. The narrator speaks of having no respite, being struck where they struck, falling where they were killed, and resurrecting with freshness. This cycle of hardship and rebirth is a testament to the narrator's enduring spirit. The repetition of "y luego y luego y luego y luego" emphasizes the endless nature of their experiences. Ultimately, the narrator concludes that they have nothing more to add, having come to live in this world, suggesting a sense of acceptance and resignation. The haunting refrain, "Ay dónde estará la guillermina?" lingers, leaving the listener with a sense of unresolved yearning and the enduring mystery of Guillermina's whereabouts.