"La Carmeta" is a song by Joan Manuel Serrat, a prominent Spanish singer-songwriter. The lyrics paint a melancholic portrait of a woman named Carmeta, whose life has taken a downward spiral. Carmeta is depicted as being alone except for her dog, and she is described as sad and resigned to her fate with no hope for better days ("Trista com un 'mai més'"). She can be seen walking through the Chinatown neighborhood when the weather is warm and the day is clear. The song suggests that Carmeta and her life represent a fading memory or a forgotten era ("És, com el barri, un record. Que s'esmuny pas a pas. I en l'ahir se'ns perd"). The singer compares her to a gas lamp or an open tram, evoking a bygone time. With her old dog plagued by mange, her coat eaten away by the harness, a red mouth, and a flower in her hair, Carmeta seems to have lost her spark and vitality ("Amb un gos vell, ple de sarna. L'abric menjat per les arnes. La boca vermella. I una flor a l'orella"). The song suggests that she might be yearning for past pleasures and joys, reminiscent of Eden, the Arnau theater, or the Bataclan nightclub, or the nights spent at a place called Cal Peret. Over time, Carmeta has gradually become worn out and faded away, just like an old melody nobody sings anymore because times have changed ("S'ha anat pansint dia a dia. Com la vella melodia. Que ningú no canta. Perquè els temps canvien"). The song concludes with a plea to the listener: when passing by Paral·lel street, where Carmeta and her dog can often be seen, speak to her about the past when someone would have cherished her as if she were made of gold ("Quan vegis pel Paral·lel. A la vella i el gos. Li parleu de llavors. Quan per sentir el seu cos. Potser tu l'haguessis omplert d'or"). Overall, the song reflects on the transient nature of life, the passing of time, and the forgotten stories of forgotten people, symbolized by the character of Carmeta and her dog.
