Song Meaning
Alberto Cortez's "Las Moscas" isn't just a song; it's a meditation on time, memory, and the persistent banality of existence. Through the recurring image of flies, Cortez constructs a powerful symbol of the inescapable presence of the mundane, even in moments of profound significance. The flies are "familiares," "inevitables," and "golosas" – greedy and ever-present witnesses to life's unfolding drama. They are not romanticized creatures like butterflies or industrious like bees; instead, they represent the grit and grime of reality that clings to our memories. Cortez directly addresses these "viejas moscas," acknowledging their role in shaping his perception.
The lyrics trace a lifespan, from "infancia y adolescencia" to "juventud dorada" and finally to a state of weary disillusionment, a "segunda inocencia / Que da en no creer en nada." The flies are constant companions, buzzing through formative moments – the boredom of childhood afternoons, the first stirrings of adolescent dreams, the drudgery of school. They are a reminder that even within these seemingly significant experiences, the ordinary persists. The flies' presence on "el juguete encantado" and "las cartas de amor" suggests a deflating effect, a subtle corruption of idealized moments by the ever-present reality of the physical world.
Ultimately, "Las Moscas" finds meaning in the flies' omnipresence, even in death, having “posado / Sobre los párpados yertos / De los muertos.” Cortez sees these creatures as a kind of perverse muse, evoking "todas las cosas." The song isn't morbid, but clear-eyed. By acknowledging the unglamorous aspects of life and memory, Cortez achieves a poignant and honest reflection on the human condition. The flies become a symbol of the memories we cannot shake, the everyday realities that shape our perceptions, and the acceptance of life's inevitable decay. It's a recognition that beauty and ugliness, significance and insignificance, are forever intertwined.
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