"Mediterráneo" is a song by Joan Manuel Serrat, a Spanish singer-songwriter. The song was released in 1971 and has since become one of his most popular and iconic songs. The lyrics of "Mediterráneo" reflect on the singer's childhood memories and experiences growing up near the Mediterranean Sea. The song's main theme revolves around nostalgia, love, and the deep connection the singer feels towards the sea. In the first verse, the singer mentions how his childhood memories still play on the beach and his first love sleeps hidden among the reeds. He carries the light and scent of the sea with him wherever he goes and keeps love, games, and sorrows piled up on the sand. The second verse talks about the singer's own personal experiences, describing how he has the bitter taste of eternal tears on his skin that have been shed by many people from Algeciras to Istanbul. The sea has painted their long winter nights blue through their unfortunate experiences, making their souls deep and dark. The chorus expresses the singer's connection to the sea, declaring that he was born in the Mediterranean and it is a part of his identity. He compares himself to a singer and an imposter, someone who enjoys playing games and drinking wine. He identifies himself as having a sailor's soul. The third verse describes the fleeting nature of relationships with the sea. The sea approaches and then leaves after kissing the singer's village, playing with the tides and thinking of returning. The sea is compared to a woman who is perfumed with tar. She is missed, loved, known, and feared. The fourth verse talks about the singer's acceptance of death. If someday death comes to take him, he asks for his boat to be pushed into the sea with an autumn wind, allowing the storm to break its white wings. He wants to be buried without mourning between the beach and the sky, on a hill higher than the horizon. The final verse describes the singer's desire to have a beautiful view on a mountain slope near the sea. His body will become a path, giving green to the pines and yellow to the broom flower. Overall, "Mediterráneo" is a deeply personal and nostalgic song about the singer's childhood memories, his connection to the sea, and his perspective on life and death. It celebrates the beauty and significance of the Mediterranean Sea in his life.
