The song “Ojalá” by Silvio Rodriguez is one that I’ve listened to many, many times. The artist alone is very well-known and admired for his poetic manner. The lyrics are below:
Ojalá que las hojas no te toquen el cuerpo
Cuando caigan
Para que no las puedas convertir en cristal
Ojalá que la lluvia deje de ser milagro
Que baja por tu cuerpo
Ojalá que la luna pueda salir sin ti
Ojalá que la tierra no te bese los pasos
Ojalá se te acabe la mirada constante
La palabra precisa, la sonrisa perfecta
Ojalá pase algo que te borre de pronto
Una luz cegadora un disparo de nieve
Ojalá por lo menos que me lleve la muerte
Para no verte tanto para no verte siempre
En todos los segundos en todas las visiones
Ojalá que no pueda tocarte ni en canciones
Ojalá que la aurora no dé gritos que caigan
En mi espalda
Ojalá que tu nombre se le olvide a esa voz
Ojalá las paredes no retengan tu ruido
De camino cansado
Ojalá que el deseo se vaya tras de ti
A tu viejo gobierno de difuntos y flores
Ojalá se te acabe la mirada constante
La palabra precisa la sonrisa perfecta
Ojalá pase algo que te borre de pronto
Una luz cegadora un disparo de nieve
Ojalá por lo menos que me lleve la muerte
Para no verte tanto para no verte siempre
En todos los segundos en todas las visiones
Ojalá que no pueda tocarte ni en canciones
The speaker in the song has lost someone special to him, someone he loved. He says ojalá, meaning “if only”, multiple times. If only he could forget, if only he didn’t see his love everywhere he went. The repetition of this titular word shows the speaker’s desperation with the situation. However, throughout the song, he goes through the relationship and points out the little things he’s going to see, the perfection of his lover. Through his desperation, the speaker reveals the underlying sadness that this part of his life has come to an end.
Silvio Rodriguez uses imagery and figurative language throughout the song to illustrate these feelings. He says, “ If only the leaves didn’t touch your body as they fell, if only my songs didn’t touch you.” This not only shows the sadness in the speaker’s words, but goes even farther to point out the hope that he still holds in his heart for his love. He exaggerates the situation using hyperboles praying that “the moon comes out even without [his loved one]”. He does this multiple times throughout the song, serving to highlight the speaker’s extreme emotions. Although the song is free-verse, the syntax of the song emulates the sporadic nature of his thoughts as the speaker deals with his broken heart.
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