Melancolía translates directly to "melancholy." It's a beautiful and evocative word that captures a deep, pensive sadness, often with a touch of wistfulness.
In Alex Cuba's song, he sings about love arriving as "la luz tan fiel a mi melancolía" (the light so faithful to my melancholy). This suggests that love found him in a state of sadness, and perhaps even became a comforting presence within that melancholy, making it a poignant and memorable choice.
Alex Cuba and Omara Portuondo bring us a beautiful, melancholic song about a love that began with a voice, a love that became "la luz tan fiel a mi melancolía" [the light so faithful to my melancholy].
It sounds like this love was a powerful comfort, but the singer couldn't hold onto it. They could only "hablar despacio" [speak slowly], and just "un minuto de placer quedó en mis brazos" [one minute of pleasure remained in my arms]. Now, the singer is left with longing, searching for their lost love "buscándote en el viento" [searching for you in the wind], like a flower that touches their thoughts. The big question is, "¿Cómo olvidar que te has ido?" [How to forget that you have gone?], and a hopeful plea for the future: "Y si mañana tú volvieras, no dejes que este amor muera de pena" [And if tomorrow you returned, don't let this love die of sorrow].