Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of agricultural laborers, the 'segadores,' toiling under harsh conditions. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of weary resignation, suggesting the narrator wouldn't rise so early if the sun itself were a fellow worker. This sets a tone of deep-seated exhaustion and resentment towards the demanding labor and the unequal distribution of effort and reward. The central tension lies in the stark contrast between the laborers' immense effort and their meager compensation. The sun is setting, casting long shadows, yet the masters' pockets are "trembling" – not from cold, but perhaps from the accumulation of wealth derived from this very labor. The narrator laments that for the "jornal" (daily wage) earned, such arduous work "No es menester tanto esfuerzo" (doesn't require so much effort), highlighting the perceived injustice of their situation. The lyrics powerfully convey the physical toll of this work. The segadores return "Descalzos y sin un cuarto" (barefoot and without a penny) and "E' quebraos de las costillas" (broken in the ribs). They drink "agua de aljibe / Toda llena de gusanos" (cistern water / All full of worms), a visceral image of their desperate and unsanitary living conditions. This imagery underscores the dehumanizing nature of their labor, where their bodies are broken and their sustenance is contaminated. Ultimately, the song serves as a raw testament to the plight of the working poor. The repeated plea, "Lo que cuesta el trabajar / Si cuatro pillos supieran" (What it costs to work / If four rascals knew), reveals a yearning for empathy and a condemnation of those who "No abusarían del pobre / Ni tampoco del jornal" (Would not abuse the poor / Nor the wage). The final lines, a quasi-religious invocation for "Carne y vino al segador!" (Meat and wine for the reaper!), express a desperate hope for basic sustenance and dignity, a stark call for recognition of their fundamental needs.