Gastibelza (lhomme � la carabine)

Song Meaning

Gastibelza, the man with the rifle, sings a haunting, repetitive lament about a woman named Doña Sabine. He questions the villagers if anyone knew her, painting a picture of her as someone exotic and captivating, with a "maugrabine" mother and a beauty that could outshine a queen. The lyrics suggest a deep, almost obsessive fascination, as Gastibelza recounts how even royalty would covet her, with a king willing to trade Spain and Peru for a mere gesture from her. The recurring line, "The wind coming through the mountain / Will drive me mad," acts as a refrain, linking his obsession to an external, uncontrollable force. This obsession is further detailed through Gastibelza's own perspective. He admits he might not have loved Sabine, but he would have endured ten years in prison for just one look from her soul, calling himself a "poor dog." He compares her to Cleopatra, a powerful figure who controlled emperors, suggesting Sabine also possessed a commanding allure. The narrative builds a sense of escalating fixation, portraying Sabine as a figure of immense desirability and power, capable of inspiring extreme devotion and sacrifice. The lyrics reveal a tragic turn when Gastibelza finally explains Sabine's fate. She sold everything – her beauty, her love – for material gain, specifically "the gold ring of the Count of Sardaigne" and "a jewel." This act of selling her love for trinkets leads directly to Gastibelza's final declaration: "The wind coming through the mountain / Has driven me mad." The contrast between her immense perceived value and her actual choices creates a profound sense of disillusionment and despair, culminating in his madness, directly attributed to her betrayal of her own allure for shallow wealth.