Penuria translates to "hardship" or "destitution." It's a strong and somewhat formal word that describes a state of extreme lack or poverty, often referring to financial or emotional distress.
In "El Río," Miguel Ríos uses penuria to describe his personal and professional struggles before finding success. He sings about being "obligado a pedirle a uno de sus componentes que me hicieran una canción para abandonar la penuria en la que me encontraba," highlighting his desperate situation and the turning point that music provided. This word adds a dramatic and personal touch to his narrative.
Miguel Ríos kicks off "El Río" by setting the scene in 1968, a big year for the world and especially for Spanish music. He even mentions how he asked a member of Los Brincos to write him a song to help him out of a rough patch, and how just a simple "city to city to city" brought back everyone's confidence. It's a cool, personal intro before he launches into the song itself.
Then he takes us back to a memorable day by the river. He sings, "Yo recuerdo aquel día, bien nos fuimos a bañar" [I remember that day well, we went to swim]. He describes the cold water and her way of swimming, then the two of them in the river, their love being born. He remembers holding her hands and her looking at him, their wet bodies under the sun. It's a really sweet, nostalgic look back at a first love. Even now, he says, "No hay nada ha cambiado, nuestros ríos siguen igual" [Nothing has changed, our rivers are still the same], with their clear waters flowing to the sea, just like when their love began there.