Carbón y sal
Jaime Roos Lyrics

"Carbón y sal" is a song by Uruguayan musician Jaime Roos, that talks about the contrast between beauty and decay in a street where coal and salt are the only remains of what once was a beautiful city. Lines such as "los vestigios de un bello cristal" (the remains of a beautiful crystal) and "una época errante y un geso de tinta y papel" (a wandering era and a trace of ink and paper) suggest that the street was once a center of culture and industry, but is now in ruins. The contrast between sulfur and honey, as well as the images of the moon and soot enveloping castles guarding a dead end, further emphasize the contrast between beauty and decay.

The song continues to talk about a man and a woman on the street, who represent the contrast between love and the coldness of the outside world. They are compared to a mare and a steed, galloping away from their past and heading towards a future of pleasure. However, the words they avoid and the old pen they guard, symbolize the walls they put up to protect themselves, and the desire to hold on to the past.

The lyrics are an ode to a decaying city, highlighting the beauty that still exists despite the ruins. The metaphor of coal and salt also suggests that from decay can emerge new life, as coal and salt are both used in important ways. It is about the passing of time, and how the only constant is change.