El Diablo (MTV Unplugged)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a dramatic scene where a figure, personified as "El Diablo" (the devil), arrives to see a "Mujer" (woman). This devilish visitor carries a carnation and a cocktail, suggesting a seductive or tempting offer. The narrator, however, seems to be observing this encounter with a sense of dread and impending loss, posing the question, "Why don't you play dead?" or "Why don't you dance can-can?" – a plea for the woman to somehow avoid this dark visitor. The central tension arises from the narrator's fear of the woman's disappearance and the subsequent need to deceive others. The repeated question, "If they ask about you, what will I say?" underscores a profound anxiety about being left alone and having to fabricate a story. This fear is amplified by the shift from "fingir" (to pretend) to "mentir" (to lie), indicating an escalation in the narrator's desperation to conceal the truth of the woman's absence. The recurring motif of "El Diablo" is particularly striking. He is not presented as a monstrous entity but as a visitor bearing gifts, "a carnation" and "a cocktail," which could be interpreted as temptations or offerings. The narrator's plea for the woman to avoid him, coupled with the devil's stated intention to "be taking care of you," creates an unsettling ambiguity about the nature of this encounter – is it a literal abduction, a metaphorical seduction, or a tragic departure? Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their stark portrayal of vulnerability and the looming threat of separation. The narrator's desperate questions and the imagery of the devil's arrival create a palpable sense of unease, leaving the listener to grapple with the narrator's fear of loss and the inevitable need to construct a false narrative in the woman's absence.