Todos Ellos

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a chilling contrast: a past question about "cómo puede llegar a matar" someone normal now directly confronts the narrator's present. A woman, presumably the same one, issues death threats when drunk, and the narrator knows she is capable. This unsettling shift immediately establishes a tone of personal danger and a grim acceptance of a path that isn't long, and pain that isn't slow. This immediate threat propels the narrator into a search for wisdom, turning to a "viejo fakir" whose back and "llagas" suggest a life steeped in hardship. The fakir's advice, that "saber ser un buen perdedor" in war is more important than peace or love, introduces a profound, almost cynical, tension. It suggests that survival and resilience in conflict might demand a re-evaluation of conventional virtues. The lyrics further deepen this existential quandary by suggesting a universal, cyclical truth. The narrator is urged to ask "cualquiera" – from a kiosk man to a woman claiming to be Lady Di – who will all echo a similar sentiment: "cuando hayas acabado," you will have "no habrás hecho más" than begin. This powerful paradox implies that endings are merely new beginnings, particularly in the context of struggle, reinforcing the idea of an ongoing, perhaps inescapable, battle. The repeated refrain, "no es tan largo el camino / ni tan lento el dolor," becomes a haunting mantra, a grim comfort in the face of relentless conflict. By juxtaposing personal terror with ancient wisdom and collective experience, the lyrics create a resonant portrait of navigating life's battles. The effectiveness lies in its unflinching look at human vulnerability and the unsettling wisdom found in accepting the terms of an ongoing "war," even if it means redefining what it means to win or lose.