Por Cierto

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone feeling out of place and perhaps a bit resentful, observing a scene they don't quite belong in. There's a sense of passive resistance, a refusal to betray or conform, even while acknowledging the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The narrator admits to simple pleasures, like thick chocolate with cookies for dipping, a stark contrast to the implied complexities or judgments of others who might 'sell you by the pound and tear you apart.' This suggests a desire for authenticity amidst a world that seems to commodify and criticize. The central tension seems to revolve around a feeling of alienation and a questioning of one's own presence. Phrases like 'What am I doing here?' and the repeated 'You know what I mean' imply a shared, unspoken understanding with an unseen listener, yet the narrator also feels misunderstood or judged. The mention of 'two thousand' arriving, a future point, hints at a hope for a shift or perhaps a resignation to waiting for things to change, while simultaneously feeling stuck in the present. A striking element is the juxtaposition of mundane desires with a somewhat chaotic social observation. The 'alpaca-scented smile' and 'Marbella mare' create a vivid, almost caricatured image of a certain social type, while the 'bells ringing, annoying as hell' adds a layer of sensory irritation. The advice to 'not seem so naive or confused, much less servile' and to 'watch the rest, everything at a hundred' points to a cynical awareness of social dynamics, urging a detached, perhaps even guarded, approach to navigating them. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their blend of specific, almost childlike desires with a world-weary, observational tone. The narrator’s plea to their parents, 'this one looked at me wrong,' and the request to 'leave me the goat and take the cheese' for excess or no reason, reveal a core of vulnerability and a desire to simply be left alone. It’s this raw, unvarnished expression of feeling out of sync, coupled with sharp observations of social artifice, that gives the song its potent, slightly melancholic charge.