"El Niño Yuntero" is a song by the Spanish singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat. It is based on a poem written by Miguel Hernandez, a prominent Spanish poet of the 20th century. The song tells the story of a young boy, the "yuntero," who is born into poverty and hardship. The lyrics describe the boy as being born more humiliated than beautiful, with a destiny tied to a yoke around his neck. The yoke represents the burden that the boy carries throughout his life as a laborer. The boy is compared to a tool destined for hard labor, born from a dissatisfied land and an unsatisfied plow. He is metaphorically brought to life amidst the manure of cows, with a soul as aged and calloused as an olive tree. The song portrays the boy starting to live, but also starting to die, as he toils relentlessly in the fields. He lifts the earth's crust with his plow, feeling the weight of the constant struggle. He labors tirelessly, enduring the sweat on his brow as a heavy crown of salt. The lyrics also highlight the boy's lack of knowledge about his own age, yet he knows the value of hard work. He works tirelessly, becoming weathered by the sun and intense labor, adorning himself with the essence of a cemetery. Through the boy's dedication and strength, he breaks bread from a hard-fought battle. However, each new day brings him closer to becoming more rooted like a plant, and less like a human being. He hears, beneath his feet, the voice of the grave, representing the inevitability of death that surrounds him. The boy, as a root in the earth, sinks deeper into the ground to bring peace and sustenance to his forehea, symbolizing his connection with the land and his relentless dedication to providing food. The singer expresses empathy and pain for this hungry child, feeling his suffering deeply. The boy's difficult living conditions stir the singer's emotions, and he compares it to a thorn in his soul. He witnesses the boy plowing the barren fields and devouring a meager crust of bread, questioning why the boy is destined to be enslaved by his circumstances. The song concludes by asking who will save this child, smaller than a grain of oats. The lyrics implore for a savior, a metaphorical hammer that will break the chains of the boy's oppression. The singer believes that this hammer will come from the hearts of the working-class men who themselves were once children laboring in the fields. In summary, "El Niño Yuntero" depicts the harsh reality faced by an impoverished child who toils relentlessly as a laborer. It emphasizes the desperateness of his situation and the plea for someone to break the chains of his oppression.
