Nana Al Rey Que Se Muere
Luis Eduardo Aute Lyrics
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La reina se arrodilla junto a él
y su hijo, el sucesor,
junto al lecho del dolor
contiene su emoción.
La corte observa con gran frialdad
la muerte lenta de su majestad.
logra alzar el rey su voz
para el postrer adiós.
Y tras los óleos de la extremaunción
al fin expira su último estertor
y comienzan a tocar
a difunto las campanas
de la catedral.
El rey a muerto, viva, viva el rey.
La misma corte aclama al nuevo rey.
Todo se repetirá,
el rey ha muerto, perro puesto
con otro collar.
The lyrics of Luis Eduardo Aute's song Nana Al Rey Que Se Muere (Lullaby for the Dying King) tell the story of a dying king, the queen and the successor, and the cold and emotionless court that surrounds them. The queen kneels by the king's side, while their son tries to hold back his own emotions. The court watches on, seemingly unaffected by the king's slow death. Finally, the king manages to utter his last goodbye before he dies, and church bells begin to toll in his honor.
The lyrics of the song are a commentary on power and the transient nature of it. The king was once at the height of his power, and now he is facing his inevitable end. His successor will eventually take his place, and the cycle will continue. The court's lack of emotional investment in the death of their monarch mirrors the idea that power is more important than individual life.
The lines "el rey ha muerto, perro puesto con otro collar" (the king is dead, long live the king) are a historical phrase used to acknowledge the death of a monarch while also ushering in the next in line to the throne. The cycle of power continues regardless of the person in the position.
Overall, the lyrics of Nana Al Rey Que Se Muere are a sobering reminder of the fleeting nature of power and the ultimate insignificance of those who hold it.
Line by Line Meaning
El rey se muere, ya se muere el rey,
The king is dying, he is dying now,
La reina se arrodilla junto a él
The queen kneels next to him
y su hijo, el sucesor,
and his son, the successor,
junto al lecho del dolor
next to the bed of pain
contiene su emoción.
keeps his emotions in check.
La corte observa con gran frialdad
The court observes with great coldness
la muerte lenta de su majestad.
the slow death of their majesty.
Entre el llanto y la oración
Between weeping and prayer,
logra alzar el rey su voz
the king manages to raise his voice,
para el postrer adiós.
for the final goodbye.
Y tras los óleos de la extremaunción
And after the oil of the last rites,
al fin expira su último estertor
he finally breathes his last breath,
y comienzan a tocar
and they begin to play
a difunto las campanas
the funeral bells
de la catedral.
of the cathedral.
El rey a muerto, viva, viva el rey.
The king is dead, long live the king!
La misma corte aclama al nuevo rey.
The same court hails the new king.
Todo se repetirá,
Everything will repeat,
el rey ha muerto, perro puesto
The king is dead, a new one put in place
con otro collar.
with a new collar.
Contributed by Adeline L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.