"Camí Avall" is a song by Catalan singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat. The title translates to "Down the Path" in English. The song tells a story about the cycle of life, love, loss, and hope in the context of a rural farming community. The lyrics describe a woman named Soledat, Rosó, or Maria (different names are mentioned), who is walking down the path with a bouquet of flowers. She is met by four men named Pere, Joan, Lluís, or Guillem, who have their hands severed, possibly a metaphorical representation of the hardships they have endured. However, they still wait for her down the path, showing their perseverance and commitment. As the song progresses, it is revealed that the men were instructed not to sow their fields, as they would not yield any crops that year. Instead, they were told to exchange their plowshares for rifles. One of the men becomes a soldier, experiencing the brutality of war and aging until he falls, only to be replaced by another tyrant. The soldier is eventually buried in a mass grave without a proper farewell or burial. The woman mourns the loss of the soldier and the fields that no longer bear crops. But then, she is comforted by the arrival of young hands that will wipe away her tears and cultivate the land once more. The song ends with the idea of new crops and roses sprouting from the fertile graves of the fallen soldiers. The scent of burnt fields dissipates, conveying a sense of renewal and a fresh beginning. Overall, "Camí Avall" reflects on the cycle of life and the resilience of the human spirit. It touches upon themes of love, loss, political oppression, and the regeneration of hope.
