Claro Oscuro
Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & Orquesta Lyrics

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En la tienda de Catarino la comida le da un sabor
A la boca como el que deja una larga enfermedad
Del mar se derrama un viento que huele a ahogado
Y a rosa la gente sueña mientras sobre la marea
Se quiebra una luna verde, y el pueblo entero se
Esconde tras presentimientos y la sombra militar
A las once de la noche se recogen las aceras y
La gente va a sus casas a olvidar

Sobre un claro oscuro, entre vida y muerte
Un aroma a rosas llega desde el mar
La gente está preocupada porque están sintiendo
Al revés, y aunque la radio no diga nada todos
Saben por qué cangrejos plateados la luna han
Robado y no la quieren devolver
El pueblo espera en silencio que al regreso de la
Marea el olor a rosas vuelva, como ayer

Entre un claro oscuro, entre vida y muerte
Un olor a rosas llega desde el mar

Un olor a rosas llega desde el mar

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Claro Oscuro" by Rubén Blades & Roberto Delgado & Orquesta convey a sense of unease and mystery in a small town. The song begins with a reference to a store owned by a man named Catarino, where the food has a taste akin to a long illness. This description creates a metaphorical connection between the physical sensation in the mouth and the lingering effects of a sickness.

The next line introduces a wind coming from the sea that carries an aroma of drowning and roses. This juxtaposition of contrasting scents suggests a duality between life and death, which echoes the title "Claro Oscuro" (clear darkness). The sea and the moon play significant roles as well, as a green moon breaks over the tide, causing the entire town to hide behind premonitions and the presence of the military.

As the night progresses, the town's streets are abandoned, and people retreat to their homes to forget their worries. There is an atmosphere of anticipation and anxiety, as the townspeople sense that something is amiss but are unsure of the exact cause. Despite the radio's silence, they all know that something unusual has happened—silver crabs have stolen the moon, deepening the peculiar sense of unease. The villagers patiently wait for the return of the tide, hoping that the scent of roses will once again fill the air, like it did in the past.

Throughout the song, the theme of a clear darkness persists, representing the uncertain and mysterious nature of the town's current state. The aroma of roses, which is associated with life and beauty, arrives from the sea. It acts as a contrast to the unsettling elements of an illness-like taste, a scent of drowning, and the stealing of the moon. The repetition of the line "Un olor a rosas llega desde el mar" (An aroma of roses arrives from the sea) reinforces this motif and hints at the potential for hope and renewal amid the ambiguity and tension.

Line by Line Meaning

En la tienda de Catarino la comida le da un sabor
In Catarino's store, the food has a taste that resembles a lingering illness.

A la boca como el que deja una larga enfermedad
To the mouth, like the taste left by a long illness.

Del mar se derrama un viento que huele a ahogado
From the sea spills a wind that smells of drowning.

Y a rosa la gente sueña mientras sobre la marea se quiebra una luna verde
And people dream of roses while a green moon breaks over the tide.

Y el pueblo entero se esconde tras presentimientos y la sombra militar
And the entire town hides behind forebodings and the shadow of the military.

A las once de la noche se recogen las aceras y la gente va a sus casas a olvidar
At eleven at night, the sidewalks are vacant and people go home to forget.

Sobre un claro oscuro, entre vida y muerte
Amidst a clear darkness, between life and death.

Un aroma a rosas llega desde el mar
An aroma of roses arrives from the sea.

La gente está preocupada porque están sintiendo al revés
People are worried because they are feeling upside down.

Y aunque la radio no diga nada todos saben por qué cangrejos plateados la luna han robado y no la quieren devolver
And even though the radio says nothing, everyone knows why silver crabs have stolen the moon and don't want to return it.

El pueblo espera en silencio que al regreso de la marea el olor a rosas vuelva, como ayer
The town waits in silence for the return of the tide for the scent of roses to come back, like yesterday.

Entre un claro oscuro, entre vida y muerte
Amidst a clear darkness, between life and death.

Un olor a rosas llega desde el mar
An aroma of roses arrives from the sea.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RUBEN BLADES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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