Peldaños literally translates to "steps" or "rungs", like the ones on a ladder. It's a beautiful, less-common word that adds a poetic touch to the song.
In "SI MURIERA MAÑANA," Rigoberta Bandini uses it metaphorically in the line "Quiero vivir... Subir más peldaños" (I want to live... To climb more rungs). After imagining her own death, she lists all the things she still wants to accomplish, with "climbing more rungs" symbolizing her desire to achieve more, have new experiences, and keep ascending in life.
Si Muriera Mañana imagines the most intense what-if: what would I do if today were my last day? Rigoberta Bandini answers with a rush of vivid scenes—building sandcastles with her little boy, clinking beers with a long-lost friend, splurging on an expensive lunch with her husband, then unleashing a private, furious prayer in a parking lot. The mix of tenderness, humor, and raw outrage turns mortality into a colorful storyboard of everyday pleasures we usually postpone.
The twist comes when she admits it is all pretend, yet the emotional weight lingers. By picturing death she spotlights life, urging us to hug harder, taste the churros, chase the degree, and keep climbing “más peldaños” for as long as possible. The song’s core message is simple and powerful: live consciously, revel in the small things, and stretch your days like you want 400 years of them.