The song "Mi Niñez" by Joan Manuel Serrat talks about the singer's childhood memories and experiences. The lyrics describe a time when the singer was ten years old and had a cat waiting for him at home after school. The cat is described as hairy, foolish, and walking on the wires of the patio. The singer also reminisces about having a balcony with basil plants, a collection of buttons, and a toy train with broken cars. They mention having a blue sky and a garden with cobblestone pathways. The singer reflects on a past in which they learned to fly while riding a scooter, navigating through the streets like a swallow. The song also mentions a somber house dressed in tenderness by the mother and a talking pillow that knew the singer's ambition to become a priest. There is a canary bird that only sings its sorrow while listening to an old organ or a radio. The singer describes having a small village in Aragon, Spain, with a canal, a stable, and some ruins under the sun, and there they shared moments with their friends. The lyrics mention the singer's childhood fascination with four sacraments, a guardian angel friend, and a borrowed and dirty "Paris-Hollywood" magazine hidden among their books. There is also a mention of a brunette girlfriend who opened the singer's senses to the moon and engaged in forbidden games under the shade of a fig tree. As the song progresses, the singer reflects on growing up, imitating their brother and challenging the elements. They describe their mother getting gray hairs while sewing pajamas, their father growing old without looking at himself in the mirror, and their brother leaving home for the first time. The song ends with the questioning of where the singer's childhood went, suggesting the passing of time and nostalgia for those innocent and carefree years. Overall, "Mi Niñez" is a nostalgic reflection on childhood memories, highlighting the simplicity, joy, and bittersweet moments that shape one's personal history.
