Uno para todos
Nelson Henriquez Lyrics
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Con su ruido, con su gente, consume vejez
Y no puedo evitar, el humo que entra hoy
Pero igual sigo creciendo, soy otro carbón
No voy a imaginar, la pena en los demás
Compro aire y si es puro, pago mucho más
No voy a tolerar, que ya no tengan fe
Que se bajen los brazos, que no haya lucidez.
Me voy, volando por ahí
Y estoy, convencido de ir
Me voy, silbando y sin rencor
Y estoy, zafando del olor.
Me encontré con la gente, que sabe valorar
Que de turista en la capital,
han sabido vagar/Y no ha encarado al fin la cruda realidad
De respirar hollín, de llorar alquitrán
Y empiezo a envejecer, sudando mi verdad
Criado pa' toser, con mucha variedad
Y adonde ir a para, cargando con mi olor
Deberíamos andar desnudos pa' sentirnos mejor.
Me voy, volando por ahí
Y estoy, convencido de ir
Me voy, silbando y sin rencor
Y estoy, zafando del olor.
The song "Uno para todos" by Nelson Henriquez talks about the plight of living in a crowded, polluted city. The first verse describes the city in all its noisy, bustling, and aging glory, lamenting the fact that the smoke enters his lungs no matter how much he tries to avoid it. The singer acknowledges his own contribution to the pollution as "another piece of coal," but refuses to imagine the sorrow of others. He even buys pure air if he can afford it, showing how the pollution has affected him and his daily life. The singer then declares that he will not tolerate others losing faith or giving up, insisting that lucidity (clarity of thought) must be maintained.
In the second verse, the singer finds solace in leaving the city and escaping the pollution, humming a tune and leaving without resentment. He meets those who have learned to appreciate life by wandering as tourists, despite the harsh reality of pollution. They experience the "cruda realidad" or harsh reality of breathing in soot and crying tar. The singer acknowledges that he is aging and coughing from the pollution, but is determined to keep going despite the variety of illnesses that afflict him. The song ends with a suggestion that perhaps people would feel better if they walked around naked in order to escape the smell of pollution.
Overall, "Uno para todos" is a powerful commentary on the effects of pollution on human beings, both physically and mentally. Despite its grim message, the song ultimately encourages listeners to keep moving forward, even amid the difficulties of living in such an environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Soy de la cuidad con todo lo que ves
I am from the city with all that you see
Con su ruido, con su gente, consume vejez
With its noise, with its people, it consumes aging
Y no puedo evitar, el humo que entra hoy
And I cannot avoid, the smoke that enters today
Pero igual sigo creciendo, soy otro carbón
But still I keep growing, I am another coal
No voy a imaginar, la pena en los demás
I will not imagine, the sorrow in others
Compro aire y si es puro, pago mucho más
I buy air and if it is pure, I pay much more
No voy a tolerar, que ya no tengan fe
I will not tolerate, that they no longer have faith
Que se bajen los brazos, que no haya lucidez
That they give up, that there is no lucidity
Me voy, volando por ahí
I am leaving, flying away
Y estoy, convencido de ir
And I am convinced to go
Me voy, silbando y sin rencor
I am leaving, whistling and without rancor
Y estoy, zafando del olor.
And I am escaping from the smell.
Me encontré con la gente, que sabe valorar
I met people, who know how to value
Que de turista en la capital, han sabido vagar
Those who have wandered as tourists in the capital
Y no ha encarado al fin la cruda realidad
And have not yet faced the harsh reality
De respirar hollín, de llorar alquitrán
Of breathing soot, of crying tar
Y empiezo a envejecer, sudando mi verdad
And I begin to age, sweating my truth
Criado pa' toser, con mucha variedad
Raised to cough, with much variety
Y adonde ir a para, cargando con mi olor
And where to go, carrying my smell
Deberíamos andar desnudos pa' sentirnos mejor.
We should walk naked to feel better.
Writer(s): RAFAEL CAMPO MIRANDA
Contributed by Addison L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.