Escarchas Lyrics in English by Héctor Lavoe
The song title itself, "Escarchas," is a fascinating word. It literally translates to "frost" or "hoarfrost," referring to the delicate ice crystals that form on surfaces.
In the context of the song, Héctor Lavoe uses "escarchas" as a powerful metaphor for the coldness and emotional distance of a lover. He describes a person with a "piel hecha en cristal de hielo" (skin made of ice crystal) and a "brisa glacial" (glacial breeze), painting a vivid picture of a relationship frozen by indifference. This word beautifully encapsulates the central theme of the song.
Héctor Lavoe casts the woman in "Escarchas" as ice that won't melt, opening resigned to it: "Con la misma frialdad que tú me das" ("With the same coldness you give me"). Rather than beg her to warm up, he answers cold with cold: "Voy a darle a tu invierno soledad" ("I'm gonna give your winter loneliness").
The song then locks onto one image and repeats it through its long coro, Lavoe casting himself as fire against her refusal to thaw: "Pero yo seré un volcán y tú seguirás en hielo" ("But I'll be a volcano and you'll stay in ice"). It's less heartbreak than a dare — he'll keep burning whether or not she ever does.
