El viaje
Calle 13 Ft. Eduardo Galeano Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oriol Vall
Que se ocupa de los recién nacidos
En un hospital de Barcelona
Dice que el primer gesto humano es el abrazo

Después de salir al mundo
Al principio de sus días
Los bebés manotean
Como buscando a alguien

Otros médicos
Que se ocupan de los ya vividos
Dicen que los viejos
Al fin de sus días
Mueren queriendo alzar los brazos

Y así es la cosa
Por muchas vueltas que le demos al asunto
Por muchas palabras que le pongamos

A eso, así de simple
Se reduce todo
Entre dos aleteos




Sin más explicación
Transcurre el viaje

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Calle 13 feat. Eduardo Galeano's song Intro - El Viaje describe two significant gestures in human life - the first embrace by a newborn and the last attempt to reach out before death. Oriol Vall, a physician from Barcelona, who takes care of newborns in a hospital, asserts that the first human gesture is an embrace. As soon as a baby is brought into this world, they flail their arms as if looking for someone. In contrast, other doctors who take care of the elderly at the end of their lives say that the last gesture of elderly people is to try and lift their arms.


The song suggests that human life is a journey that starts with looking for love, affection, and a sense of belonging. Life is an elusive concept, but ultimately it is between these two gestures - the first and the last - that every human being is meant to travel. The song's chorus repeats that life is nothing more than two flutters of wings with no further explanation. Together the lyrics emphasize the fleeting nature of life.


Line by Line Meaning

Que se ocupa de los recién nacidos
Oriol Vall takes care of newborns in a hospital in Barcelona.


Dice que el primer gesto humano es el abrazo
He states that the initial human gesture is an embrace.


Después de salir al mundo
After coming into this world,


Al principio de sus días
At the start of their lives,


Los bebés manotean
Newborns wave their arms,


Como buscando a alguien
As if searching for someone.


Otros médicos
Other medical professionals,


Que se ocupan de los ya vividos
Who care for those who have lived longer,


Dicen que los viejos
Claim that the elderly,


Al fin de sus días
At the end of their lives,


Mueren queriendo alzar los brazos
Pass away wanting to reach out their arms.


Y así es la cosa
That's just the way it is,


Por muchas vueltas que le demos al asunto
No matter how much we ponder on this matter,


Por muchas palabras que le pongamos
No matter how many words we use,


A eso, así de simple
The truth is, it's as simple as that,


Se reduce todo
Everything comes down to,


Entre dos aleteos
Between two flaps of wings,


Sin más explicación
Without any further explanation,


Transcurre el viaje
The journey goes on.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDUARDO CABRA, EDUARDO GALEANO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions