Marcha atrás literally translates to "reverse gear," like in a car. It's a fantastic idiomatic phrase that means 'to go backwards' or 'to backtrack'.
In this poignant song about his father, Enrique Iglesias uses it metaphorically, singing "A veces hemos ido marcha atrás" (Sometimes we have gone backwards) to describe the regressions and setbacks in their relationship. It’s a perfect example of how a practical phrase can be used poetically to express a complex, relatable feeling.
**“Quizás” is Enrique Iglesias’s heartfelt pop postcard to his father, written with the honesty of a late–night confession and the tenderness of a long-overdue hug. Addressing him as “hola viejo” (“hi old man”), Enrique acknowledges the passing years, admits to lingering loneliness even amid success, and wonders if their different dreams—a desert for one, a sea for the other—have pushed them apart. Every “quizás” (“maybe”) is both a worry and a wish: maybe life is pulling them further away, but maybe the very act of wondering is proof of a love that keeps growing.
Wrapped in gentle guitars and a soulful melody, the lyrics turn a simple phone call into a journey through regret, pride, and reconciliation. By the end, the singer is no longer counting the miles between them but the gratitude he feels because of those miles. The song invites listeners to pick up the phone, mend fences, and remember that family ties—though stretched by time and distance—can still be tuned back into harmony, one honest word at a time.