Raudal literally means 'torrent' or 'flood', often referring to a rapid flow of water. However, it's frequently used metaphorically to describe an abundance or an overwhelming flow of something.
In "Yolanda," Pablo Milanés sings, "Que pongan freno a lo que siento ahora a raudales" (That they put a stop to what I feel now in torrents/abundantly). Here, a raudales vividly expresses the overwhelming, uncontrollable flood of his emotions, making it a powerful and evocative word choice that goes beyond simple everyday vocabulary.
Pablo Milanés wrote "Yolanda" in 1970 for his wife, Yolanda Benet, just days after the birth of their daughter — and the song opens by admitting the format can't hold what he means: "Esto no puede ser no más que una canción" ("This can't be more than a song"). He spends the rest of it proving that wrong anyway, circling back to "Te amo" ("I love you") until it becomes "Eternamente te amo" ("Eternally I love you").
The verses stay physical rather than abstract: her hand ("Por eso a veces sé que necesito tu mano" — "That's why sometimes I know I need your hand"), the fear of being truly known ("Este temor de hallarme descubierto" — "This fear of finding myself uncovered"), her face at the window in the closing image. It ends the way it built — not one declaration but her name, repeated: "Eternamente Yolanda" ("Eternally Yolanda"). Decades on, it's still the song most Cuban trova fans reach for first, and Milanés himself said its fame outgrew his own.
Pablo Milanés, from Cuba, was a central figure in the Nueva Trova movement, a style of Cuban music that emerged in the late 1960s. He helped shape this genre with his thoughtful lyrics and melodic compositions.
His music often blends traditional Cuban rhythms with folk and pop influences, creating a sound that is both personal and widely appealing. Milanés is especially celebrated for songs like "Yolanda," "Para vivir," and "El breve espacio en que no estás," which became anthems for many listeners.