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).

Vaivén
Jorge Drexler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tu caricia no me afecta
Yo la puedo tolerar
Sin mover una pestaña
Sin parar de controlar
Cada cosa que digo
Ningún gesto de más
De lo que pase acá dentro
No te vas a enterar

Él desgrana moralejas
y analiza el porvenir
Está jurando que la quiere
Que no se va a repetir
No me rindo tan fácil
Ya me supo doler
No me cuentes el premio
Que no voy a caer

Ya no más de tu vaivén
No ves que ya está
No tiene revés
Ya no puedo recobrar
Aquella emoción
Se desdibujó

Tu caricia no me afecta
Yo la puedo tolerar
Sin mover una pestaña
Sin parar de controlar
Cada cosa que digo
Ningún gesto de más
De lo que pase acá dentro
No te vas a enterar

Ya no más de tu vaivén
No ves que ya está
No tiene revés
Ya no puedo recobrar

Aquella emoción
Se desdibujó

Overall Meaning

In Jorge Drexler's song Vaivén, the singer is expressing their emotional detachment from their lover, who tries to win them back with promises that they won't hurt them again. The singer claims to be able to tolerate the lover's touch without flinching or giving in to their emotions. They carefully control their words and gestures, keeping their inner thoughts hidden. They refuse to be swayed by the lover's attempts to win them over, claiming that they have already been hurt by them before.

The repeated phrase "Ya no más de tu vaivén" (no more of your back and forth) emphasizes the singer's desire for stability and honesty in their relationship. They see through the lover's attempts to manipulate them with empty promises and refuse to be caught in a cycle of pain and reconciliation. The line "aquella emoción se desdibujo" (that emotion faded away) suggests that the initial spark between the singer and the lover has been lost, and there is no going back to the way things were.

Line by Line Meaning

Tu caricia no me afecta
Your caress doesn't affect me.

Yo la puedo tolerar
I can tolerate it.

Sin mover una pestaña
Without even moving an eyelash.

Sin parar de controlar
Continuously controlling.

Cada cosa que digo
Every word I say.

Ningún gesto de más
No extra gesture.

De lo que pase acá dentro
Of what happens inside.

No te vas a enterar
You won't find out.

Él desgrana moralejas
He analyzes morals.

y analiza el porvenir
And analyzes the future.

Está jurando que la quiere
He's swearing that he loves her.