Yesquero translates to "lighter" or "tinderbox". While seemingly simple, it's a less common and more evocative word than the everyday "encendedor" for a lighter.
In the context of "El Cigarro," the word sets the stage for the song's central theme of smoking and reflection. It immediately draws the listener into the act of lighting up, which serves as a catalyst for the deep thoughts and existential musings that follow. This specific word choice makes the opening more poetic and memorable.
Micro TDH's "El Cigarro" is a really thoughtful song that uses the act of smoking a cigarette as a metaphor for life itself. He starts by lighting up, saying it doesn't matter what color his lighter is, as long as it helps him "encender lo que me quitará / Este mal" [light what will take away / This bad feeling]. He finds himself alone, which he realizes is a good time to think. He feels connected to the world as he smokes, but also acknowledges that "la vida se consume con cada galón" [life is consumed with every gallon] and "cada vez se hace más pequeño el corazón" [the heart gets smaller each time]. He thinks about how some people seem to live an ideal life, and how important it is to balance things like laughing, loving, and living with spiritual joy.
He sees the ashes as memories carried by the wind, and despite wanting to stop, he can't yet. He asks the listener to stop time and chat, revealing that "La vida es un cigarro / La vida es un tabaco y aún no lo he fumado" [Life is a cigarette / Life is tobacco and I haven't smoked it yet]. This line is so powerful, suggesting life is something to be lived and experienced. He talks about achieving his dream of being a singer and hopes for another life where he gets "un cigarro y un lapicero" [a cigarette and a pen]. He encourages wanting a better world and reminds us that "en cada oportunidad / Hay una experiencia" [in every opportunity / There's an experience]. Even though he feels like he's sinking, he believes his being will transcend, and if he dies, the world will have lost him. It's a deep reflection on existence, dreams, and the passage of time.