It was written in 1973 and tells of the passionate desire and shame felt by Chilean singer-songwriter Violeta Parra after being rejected by her lover, Gilbert Favre.
Singer Tania Libertad, who later covered the song, wrote: "The letter is a permanent questioning; the sensuality and rhythmic division of the landó allow syncopation and spaces where there is room for doubt and lack of answers.
[4][5][6][7] Author Sara Vignolo offered an interpretation on the song: "The thistle is a showy flower with a stem and thorny leaves; it is captivating and painful like the stories of impossible love.
It is hell of ashamed love; offbeat, lilting, syncopated ... a forbidden dance, a drink joyful and bitter ”[8] Cómo será mi piel junto a tu piel Cómo será mi piel junto a tu piel Cardo o ceniza Cómo será Si he de fundir mi espacio frente al tuyo Cómo será tu cuerpo al recorrerme Y cómo mi corazón si estoy de muerte Mi corazón si estoy de muerte Se quebrará mi voz cuando se apague De no poderte hablar en el oído Y quemará mi boca salivada De la sed que me queme si me besas De la sed que me queme si me besas Cómo será el gemido y cómo el grito Al escapar mi vida entre la tuya Y cómo el letargo al que me entregue Cuando adormezca el sueño entre tu sueño Han de ser breves mis siestas Mis esteros despiertan con tus ríos Pero, pero Pero cómo serán mis despertares Cada vez que despierte avergonzada Tanto amor y avergonzada How would my skin be next to your skin Thistle or ash How would it be If I melt my space before yours How would it be for your body to transverse me And my heart if I were to expire My voice will break when it fades from not being able to speak in your ear And my mouth will burn From the thirst that burns me if you kiss me How will the cry and the shout be When I escape my life into yours And how the languor to which I surrender When the dream sleeps between your dream My slumber must be brief My rivers awaken with yours But, but How will my awakenings be Every morning, I wake ashamed So much love and ashamed Granda first recorded the song for her 1974 Sono Radio album, Chabuca Granda y ... don Luis González.
Sarmiento opened the book by naming "Cardo y ceniza" among Granda's four most recognized works, demonstrating her unfading creative capacity and talent.