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).

Tatuaje
Jorge Drexler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Como un tatuaje desteñido
Me iré borrando de tu piel
Se irá mi última caricia
Decolorando, mes a mes

Dirás que fue la medianoche
Dirás, las luces de color
Y en un segundo de descuido

Recobrarás mi corazón

Hay un dolor abandonado
En el rincón de nunca más
Una pasión de utilería
Que ya no sirve recordar

Dirás que fue la madrugada
Por la ventana el resplandor

Y en un segundo de desvelo
Comprenderás esta canción

Overall Meaning

In Jorge Drexler's song Tatuaje, the singer seems to be singing about a relationship that has come to an end. He compares himself to a faded tattoo, slowly disappearing from the skin of his former lover. He imagines his last touch on her skin turning pale and disappearing over time. He knows that she will say it was the midnight lights or the dawn's first light that made her forget him for a moment, but he also believes that he will come back to her in a moment of carelessness. The singer's love seems to have become a feeling of pain that has been left in the corner of "never again." A discarded passion that's of no use to remember.

Ultimately, the song seems to convey the idea that time can be a painted veil that disguises the true nature of a relationship. It can lead people to create facades and illusions that they cannot recognize when they're away from them. The fading of the tattoo could symbolize the gradual loss of feeling, while the light in the window could represent hope of reconciliation. The song ends with the singer stating that someday his ex-lover will understand the meaning of the song, which seems to suggest that even if their love has ended, the memories will endure and that's what they will share.

Line by Line Meaning

Como un tatuaje desteñido
Like a faded tattoo

Me iré borrando de tu piel
I will fade away from your skin

Se irá mi última caricia
My last caress will go away

Decolorando, mes a mes
Fading, month by month

Dirás que fue la medianoche
You will say it was midnight

Dirás, las luces de color
You will say, the colorful lights

Y en un segundo de descuido
And in a moment of carelessness

Recobrarás mi corazón
You will regain my heart

Hay un dolor abandonado
There's an abandoned pain

En el rincón de nunca más
In the corner of never again

Una pasión de utilería
A passion of convenience