Jorge Drexler (n. Montevideo; September 21, 1964), is a critically acclaime… Read Full Bio ↴Jorge Drexler (n. Montevideo; September 21, 1964), is a critically acclaimed Uruguayan singer/songwriter who resides in Spain, began his recording career in the early 90's but didn't experience mainstream breakthrough success until his seventh album, Eco (2004), and its Oscar-winning song ''Al Otro Lado Del Río''.

He comes from a Jewish family that fled persecution in Germany. He studied to become an otolaryngologyst (i.e., ear, throat, and nose doctor) like his parents but ultimately chose to pursue his passion for music.

Drexler made his full-length album debut with La Luz Que Sabe Robar (1992), followed by Radar (1994). In hopes of furthering his career, he went to Spain in 1995 upon the invitation of legendary singer/songwriter Joaquín Sabina , who showed him around the Madrid music scene and helped him secure an international recording contract. So impressed with Madrid that he chose to make his permanent residency there, Drexler got together with a band of Spanish musicians to re-record material from his first two albums along with new material and release it internationally as Vaivén (1996), the first of four albums on Virgin España. The highlights of Vaivén along with those of its three follow-ups, Llueve (1998), Frontera (1999), and Sea (2001), were later compiled on the best-of compilation La Edad Del Cielo (2004).

Upon his switch to the Dro Atlántic label, Drexler's career reached new heights of success with the critically acclaimed Eco (2004). Most notably, the album includes the Oscar-winning song ''Al Otro Lado Del Río'', which was prominently featured during the closing credits of the Walter Salles film The Motorcycle Diaries (2004).

Eco proved so successful, in fact, that it was re-released with bonus material as Eco² (2005). Subsequent albums include 12 Segundos de Oscuridad (2006), the double-disc live album Cara B (2008), and Amar la Trama (2010).

Madre tierra
Jorge Drexler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

La madre Tierra es madre soltera
uuh, su luna no es de miel
El se marchó hace dos años
dejándola en la dulce espera
Y su corazón ya no espera por él

Aún es joven la Madre Tierra
uh, la flor de la edad

cruzando el cielo
el pelo al viento
y el niño en la cadera
yo me volví al verla pasar

por el azul
azul del cielo
uh, con su vestido del azul del mar

Está en el paro, la Madre Tierra
uh, pero sabe pelear
y algunas noches
hace suplencias
de camarera
si alguna vecina le cuida el chaval

Mi mesa la atiende la Madre Tierra
"Ya vamos a cerrar"'me dice'
Yo le digo: "Te ví con tu niño
vivimos en la misma acera
si ya te vas, te puedo acompañar"

Por el azul

azul del cielo
uh, con su vestido del azul del mar

Overall Meaning

In Jorge Drexler's song "Madre Tierra", he personifies the Earth as a single mother who is left alone by her partner. He describes her as being young at heart despite being abandoned by her partner, who left her in sweet anticipation. Her heart no longer yearns for him as she is now used to being a single mother. As she passes by, the singer is enchanted by her beauty and sees her with her child on her hip and her hair blowing in the wind as she crosses the sky. She is always in search of work, even if it means working as a replacement for a waitress a few nights a week so that she can provide for her child, while another neighbor takes care of her son. The song ends with the singer offering to walk her home as she prepares to leave her shift at the diner.

Line by Line Meaning

La madre Tierra es madre soltera
The Earth is a single mother

uuh, su luna no es de miel
Her moon is not a honeymoon

El se marchó hace dos años
He left two years ago

dejándola en la dulce espera
Leaving her in sweet anticipation

Y su corazón ya no espera por él
And her heart no longer waits for him

Aún es joven la Madre Tierra
Mother Earth is still young

uh, la flor de la edad
The flower of her age

cruzando el cielo
Crossing the sky

el pelo al viento
Hair blowing in the wind

y el niño en la cadera
And a child on her hip

yo me volví al verla pasar
I turned around when I saw her pass by