PatĂbulo literally translates to "scaffold" or "gallows", a structure used for executions. It's a dramatic and intense word not commonly found in everyday conversation or many songs.
In Ricardo Arjona's lyrics, he uses patĂbulo metaphorically to describe his house, saying "Y el patĂbulo es la casa". This powerful imagery conveys a feeling of entrapment, despair, and impending doom within his own home, making it a truly striking and memorable word choice.
Ricardo Arjona's "Vivir" is a portrait of a sleepless night spent fighting old fears. He watches the light fade — "Veo el sol resbalando en las paredes" [I see the sun sliding on the walls] — right before "los fantasmas de la noche" [the ghosts of the night] show up again, hauling in "su ejército de miedos" [his army of fears]. He calls loneliness the "plato fuerte de la noche" [highlight of the night], and pictures the clock as an executioner, timing every regret down to the minute.
Arjona doesn't resolve any of it — he just decides to keep going. "Solo queda respirar" [all you have to do is breathe] "y vivir si es lo que hay" [and live if that's what there is] becomes the whole plan: stop guarding what's already gone — "quedarte ahà por no perder lo que ya no es tu propiedad" [stay there so as not to lose what is no longer your property] — and open your eyes anyway.
Edgar Ricardo Arjona Morales, better known as Ricardo Arjona, is a celebrated singer and songwriter from Guatemala, born on January 19, 1964. He is one of the best-selling Latin American artists of all time, with over 20 million records sold worldwide.
Arjona's music masterfully blends Latin pop, ballads, folk, and a cappella styles, often lyrically exploring themes such as love, social issues, and immigration. Since beginning his career in the mid-1980s, he has released sixteen studio albums, several of which topped charts in Latin America and the United States. His compelling songwriting and distinctive voice have earned him prestigious accolades, including Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, cementing his legacy as a storytelling icon in Latin music.