The song "La Presó De Lleida" by Joan Manuel Serrat tells the story of a prison located in the city of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain. The lyrics depict a small and beautiful prison that always has enough prisoners, thanks to the actions of an influential baron. In the prison, there are 150 prisoners who sing a song that catches the attention of a young girl named Nina, who listens to them from the watchtower. The prisoners ask Nina to relay a message to their loved ones, particularly to their fathers, pleading for forgiveness and asking for the keys to the prison to be relinquished. The song takes a dramatic turn when Nina, speaking to her own father, asks for a favor: to grant her father's forgiveness to all the prisoners. However, her father responds that he will not grant their request and plans to hang them all. Shocked by her father's cruelty, Nina pleads with him to hang her as well. In the end, the song suggests that for each prisoner being executed, a bouquet of flowers should be placed on their gallows so that people passing by can at least sense a pleasant smell. These symbolic flowers represent the hope and beauty that remains amidst the darkness and despair of the prison. Overall, "La Presó De Lleida" is a tragic song that reflects the struggles and injustices faced by prisoners and the harsh realities of the prison system. It touches upon themes of forgiveness, power dynamics, and the resilience of the human spirit.
