Marrón
Mercedes Sosa Lyrics
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Por las calles de la villa
Por las calles de la villa
Se me astilla mi cancion
Dos niños se pelean por un rayo de sol
Miseria esta muy fea
Miseria que paso
No dejes que te vea
Tu espejo de carton
Marron, marron
La luna de tu noche
Fue luna de algodon
Duraba triste el frio
Ganandole al carbon
Tapado de rocio dormilon
Sonaba algun baldio
Su sueño de laton
Canillita se marchita
La niñez y la alegria
Lava ropa noche y dia
Lustre lustre bien marron
Monedero sin dinero
No se asuste del ladron
Por las calles de la villa
Se me astilla mi cancion
Marron, marron
Prestame una sonrisa
Te cambio una ilusion
De donde saco flores
Si no hay ningun balcon
Si sobran los dolores
Si falta la razon
De donde saco flores
Si nadie las planto
The song Marron by Mercedes Sosa is a powerful commentary on the realities of poverty and hardship experienced by those living in the slums of Argentina. The color "marron" - or brown - is used throughout the song as a metaphor for the darkness and sadness that permeate the lives of those in these neighborhoods. The song paints a bleak picture of the struggles faced by the people, including children fighting over a ray of sunshine, the cold that is only overcome by burning coal, and the constant work of washing laundry and shining shoes just to make ends meet. The lyrics describe the dreams and hopes of those living in these difficult conditions, but also acknowledge the painful reality that many may never have the chance to see those dreams come true.
The repeated lines of "Por las calles de la villa / Se me astilla mi cancion" (Through the streets of the slum / My song is breaking) convey the sense of hopelessness and despair that can be felt in these communities. Despite their struggles, however, the people still find ways to connect with each other and to find moments of joy and connection amidst the darkness. The song ends with a plea for compassion and understanding, as the singer asks for a smile and a shared dream to help overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles facing those in the slums.
Line by Line Meaning
Marron, marron
Brown, brown
Por las calles de la villa
Through the streets of the slum
Se me astilla mi cancion
My song breaks apart
Dos niños se pelean por un rayo de sol
Two children fight over a ray of sun
Miseria esta muy fea
Misery is very ugly
Miseria que paso
Misery, what happened?
No dejes que te vea
Don't let it see you
Tu espejo de carton
Your cardboard mirror
La luna de tu noche
The moon of your night
Fue luna de algodon
Was a cotton moon
Duraba triste el frio
The cold lasted sadly
Ganandole al carbon
Beating the coal
Tapado de rocio dormilon
Covered in dew, sleepy
Sonaba algun baldio
Some vacant lot sounded
Su sueño de laton
Its dream of tin
Canillita se marchita
The newspaper boy wilts
La niñez y la alegria
Childhood and happiness
Lava ropa noche y dia
Washes clothes night and day
Lustre lustre bien marron
Buff, buff very brown
Monedero sin dinero
Purse without money
No se asuste del ladron
Don't be afraid of the thief
Prestame una sonrisa
Lend me a smile
Te cambio una ilusion
I'll trade you a dream
De donde saco flores
Where do I get flowers
Si no hay ningun balcon
If there's no balcony
Si sobran los dolores
If there's an excess of pain
Si falta la razon
If there's a lack of reason
De donde saco flores
Where do I get flowers
Si nadie las planto
If no one planted them
Contributed by Grayson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@florel1962
Gracias por estás joyas, de canciones, con esta maravillosa voz, de Mercedes Sosa
@celinaalencar7533
Amo, amo amo e amo, Mercês Sosa!
@robertocajascorsi9185
Gracias Meche
@santosnavidad1065
Preciosisima vos inigualable
@TheAlfameli
me gusto la canción
@amelotiger
Linda Mercedes e canção!