Claudio Baglioni's 'Hangar' contemplates the fluctuating self-identity amidst life's monotony and the endless cycle of goodbyes and delays in the pursuit of dreams. It conveys the longing to escape a stagnant existence personified as a hangar, where one's ambitions and secrets are stored, yet also acknowledges the seductive comfort of the familiar.
At the onset of 'Hangar,' Claudio Baglioni presents us with a profound yet conflicted emotional state. The protagonist seems to be caught between his individuality and the collective identity, feeling both unique and common at the same time. The emotional journey begins with introspection, recognizing one's reality among 'sinners and saints,' finding oneself neither divine nor insignificant but somewhere in between. The dream ahead carries a beacon of hope amidst the protagonist's longstanding companionship with personal strife—a relationship with his fears and doubts. This indicates a sense of self-awareness and resilience as the tone mixes introspection with determination.
Further emotional complexity unfolds as the song progresses. Baglioni weaves a narrative of a character deeply immersed in the weariness of routine, desiring the 'lottery win' of a meaningful escape. The feeling of being trapped in a metaphorical 'hangar' is suffused with apathy, symbolizing a life stripped of joy and excitement. The protagonist clings to this hangar without truly owning a space within it. He exists in a perpetual state of limbo, oscillating between hope for change and the gloom of winter—the 'cold' periods of life that seem to forecast an ever-approaching demise without actually living.
In a pivotal turn of emotional turmoil, the song delves into the duality between the heroism and villainy within oneself, confronting the fear of either stepping out of obscurity or succumbing to it. The protagonist acknowledges the silent observer and the leading actor within, navigating between the notions of courage and cowardice. Within this dynamic, the song strikes a chord of relatability: the ever-present inner battle of wanting to break free from our own limitations and the fear of stepping into the unknown.
The concluding verses of 'Hangar' see the protagonist grappling with inevitable goodbyes, a cycle of renewal and postponement, and a startling clarity that his dream may also be his downfall. There is a resignation to the pattern of life, where each day signifies a departure from what could be. Yet, despite this, there is a fierce polishing of the dream that drives him, a turbulent need to leave the hangar behind—one day. The life portrayed is a paradox, tethered to the fantasy of escape while drowning in the mechanics of the mundane.
"Vivo in te ma non pago l'affitto"
The protagonist feels as though they inhabit a life they don't truly own, analogous to living in a place without paying rent. This line conveys the alienation and detachment from one's own existence.
"Questo è il mio lavoro nero"
'Lavoro nero' is the Italian term for under-the-table work or work done off the books, often illegal. In the song, it suggests a personal, internal work that lacks recognition or legal legitimacy—perhaps the inner work of dreaming and self-discovery.
"Uno che sta zitto"
A person who remains silent is often someone who observes or chooses not to participate openly. In the song, it reflects a persona grappling with self-expression and the choice to either speak out or remain an observer in their own life.
"Me ne andrò un mattino quieto, Senza che nessuno pianga"
The idea of leaving quietly one morning with no one to mourn the departure encapsulates a sense of loneliness and insignificance, yet also reveals a desire for a peaceful, unnoticed exit from a life that feels confined.