"Barquito de Papel" is a song by Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat. The song tells the story of a paper boat, symbolizing the innocence and simplicity of childhood. The lyrics describe the boat as nameless, without a pattern or flag, sailing without a rudder wherever the current takes it. It is portrayed as a daring adventurer, a rider on squared paper that sets sail on a canal, still young and untouched by the past. The song nostalgically reflects on a time when a canal was a river, and a pond was the sea. It speaks of the joy of navigating freely, playing with the wind and being timely with a smile. The paper boat represents the carefree nature of childhood, the happiness of exploring different countries, of being between school and home, and the passage of time. As the song progresses, it highlights the bittersweetness of growing up, as the boat's smile and the singer's past seem to have been stranded on a strange sandbank. The boat stands as a reminder of the innocence of the past, dressed in school uniforms. The overall meaning of the song is to evoke the memories and innocence of childhood, and how time and the complexities of adulthood make us forget the simplicity and joy of those early years. It is a beautiful reflection on the passage of time and the longing for simpler times.
