Santa Sabina are distinguished by their gothic rock lyrics and stage presence. Their music, however, is perhaps best described as a variant of progressive rock which borrows heavily from jazz.
At the end of the 1980s, Guerrero left her hometown of Guadalajara to attend the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City to pursue a career in theatre. There, she met Poncho Figueroa, Pablo Valero and Jacobo Leiberman, who at that time were members of a jazz group called "the Psicotrópicos". "The Psicotrópicos" agreed to provide music for a play written for Guerrero's theatre class based on Franz Kafka's "Amérika". As they worked together, they realized they had a strong artistic affinity. After the dissolution of the "Psicotrópicos", they decided to form a new rock band that reflected their artistic vision. Although the group's lineup has changed through the years (as in the case of Pablo Valero and Jacobo Leiberman), the sound of the group, has evolved but remains faithful to its initial course.
Their first albums, Santa Sabina (1992), Símbolos (1994) and Babel (1996) were released through the now-defunct Mexican record label Culebra Records, a local branch of BGM Ariola. Their following albums, Mar adentro en la sangre (2001) and Espiral (2003), were independent productions. In 1997, they also recorded an album of their "unplugged" performance for MTV Latinamerica called Santa Sabina Unplugged.
The band reformed briefly in 2010 when it became clear that this might be the last chance to have Rita perform as she was diagnosed with breast cancer and treatment failed. On the 11th March 2011 Rita passed away which left the band without a lead-singer. No information is available whether they will reform with another singer.
Espiral
Santa Sabina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cantas el río profundo de tu bondad.
Vienes gritando risa desde el mar,
Vienes cargando llanto, soledad.
No será el mundo nunca tu lugar,
Es la locura tu propia verdad.
Hueles los centros claros de la vida.
Juegas a verte niño de cara al sol,
Juegas a oír el eco en tu soledad.
¿Qué vendrá?
¿Dónde estas?
No serás nunca parte de los demás,
Es la locura, tu amante, tu verdad.
Tu latido se aleja lento hasta detener,
Una mirada que vuelve a su nido.
Dejas la vida con gesto de despertar,
Suave y tranquilo tu muerte soñar.
¿Qué vendrá?
¿Volverás?
No será nunca el mundo tu lugar,
Es la locura tu amante.
The lyrics to Santa Sabina's song "Espiral" speak about a unique individual who seems to be in their own world. The first verse describes how this person communicates, mentioning their sweetness and kindness as well as their ability to express joy and sorrow. However, the following lines suggest that this person doesn't quite fit into society as they know it. The second verse mentions their tendency to be consumed by the absurdity of reason and their ability to sense the beauty in life. The mention of playing like a child and hearing echoes in their solitude eludes to an innocence and wonder that is often lost in adulthood. The chorus poses questions about what the future holds and whether this individual will return. The third verse is more introspective, describing how this person's heartbeat slows until it stops and how they leave life as if waking up from a dream.
Overall, the song seems to be about an individual who is different and doesn't fit into society's mold. It speaks to the idea that perhaps there is more to life than what can be seen on the surface, and that maybe those who are deemed "crazy" or "different" actually have a deeper understanding of the truth.
Line by Line Meaning
Hablas del bosque claro de tu dulzura,
You speak of the clear forest of your sweetness,
Cantas el río profundo de tu bondad.
You sing the deep river of your goodness.
Vienes gritando risa desde el mar,
You come shouting laughter from the sea,
Vienes cargando llanto, soledad.
You come carrying tears, loneliness.
No será el mundo nunca tu lugar,
The world will never be your place,
Es la locura tu propia verdad.
Madness is your own truth.
Gastas la angustia absurda de la razón,
You waste the absurd anguish of reason,
Hueles los centros claros de la vida.
You smell the clear centers of life.
Juegas a verte niño de cara al sol,
You play to see yourself as a child facing the sun,
Juegas a oír el eco en tu soledad.
You play to hear the echo in your loneliness.
¿Qué vendrá?
What will come?
¿Dónde estas?
Where are you?
No serás nunca parte de los demás,
You will never be part of others,
Es la locura, tu amante, tu verdad.
Madness, your lover, your truth.
Tu latido se aleja lento hasta detener,
Your heartbeat slowly fades away until it stops,
Una mirada que vuelve a su nido.
A look that returns to its nest.
Dejas la vida con gesto de despertar,
You leave life with a gesture of awakening,
Suave y tranquilo tu muerte soñar.
Soft and calm, dreaming of your death.
¿Qué vendrá?
What will come?
¿Volverás?
Will you come back?
No será nunca el mundo tu lugar,
The world will never be your place,
Es la locura tu amante.
Madness is your lover.
Contributed by Liliana F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.