You’ve probably seen the lines on a grainy Instagram post or heard them whispered in a movie. "Compañera, usted sabe que puede contar conmigo." It’s everywhere. Mario Benedetti Hagamos un trato lyrics have become a sort of universal anthem for people who want love without the messy, suffocating drama. But honestly? Most people treat it like a simple Hallmark card. It’s way more than that.
Benedetti wasn't just some guy writing "roses are red" verses. He was a Uruguayan giant who lived through exile, political upheaval, and the kind of long-term marriage that actually requires work. When he wrote about "making a deal," he wasn't talking about a business transaction. He was talking about survival.
Why Mario Benedetti Hagamos un trato lyrics hit different
Most love poems are about obsession. They're about "I can't live without you" or "You’re my everything." Benedetti takes a sharp left turn. He suggests something much more radical: reliability.
The poem starts with a very specific phrase: "No hasta dos o hasta diez / sino contar conmigo." In Spanish, contar is a pun. It means to count (1, 2, 3) but it also means to count on someone. He’s saying, don’t just count numbers; count on my existence.
It’s a low-pressure promise.
He acknowledges that he might be "huraño" (surly or unsociable) sometimes. He doesn't pretend to be a perfect, smiling partner 24/7. That's the human part. We all have those days where we’re just... off. Benedetti says that even in those moments, the deal stands. You can still count on him.
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The "Deal" is actually a two-way street
The middle of the poem is where the tone shifts. He’s been offering his support for several stanzas, but then comes the "but."
"Pero hagamos un trato / yo quisiera contar / con usted."
This is the pivot. He isn't just a pillar for the other person to lean on until he breaks. He wants a partner. He wants to know that if things get heavy, he has a place to land too.
It’s about the "veta de amor"—that vein of love. He tells her not to "alert her rifles" or think he’s gone crazy if she sees love in his eyes. It’s a beautiful metaphor for the defensiveness we often carry into relationships. We’re so used to being burned that we keep our guard up, rifles ready. Benedetti asks for those rifles to be lowered.
From the page to the stage: Joan Manuel Serrat
While it started as a poem in his 1984 book Cotidianas, many people know these words because of music. The Mario Benedetti Hagamos un trato lyrics were immortalized by Joan Manuel Serrat.
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Serrat is a legend in his own right, and his rendition turned the poem into a ballad that defined a generation. When you hear it sung, the rhythm of the words changes. It becomes more of a conversation. It’s less of a literary "reading" and more of a late-night confession over a bottle of wine.
The music adds a layer of vulnerability that’s hard to capture in print. It’s why you’ll find this song at weddings, funerals, and everywhere in between in Latin America. It fits everywhere because it’s about the fundamental human need to be seen and supported.
The political subtext you might have missed
Benedetti was a member of the "Generation of '45." He spent years in exile from Uruguay during the military dictatorship. When he uses words like "compañera," it carries weight.
In the 60s and 70s, compañero/a wasn't just a romantic term. It was a political one. It meant someone you shared a struggle with. Someone who stood next to you in the trenches—literally or figuratively.
So, when he says "Hagamos un trato," he’s not just talking about a suburban romance. He’s talking about a partnership that can withstand the world falling apart.
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If you look at his life, he stayed with his wife, Luz López, for sixty years. They went through exile together. They moved from country to country. They stayed "elbow to elbow," as he says in another famous poem (Te quiero). That's the "deal" in action.
A quick breakdown of the core message
- Reliability over Passion: It’s not about grand gestures; it’s about being there.
- Reciprocity: A deal only works if both parties sign on.
- Acceptance: He accepts her "veta de amor" and asks her to accept his "huraño" moods.
- Security: The ultimate goal is "saber a ciencia cierta"—knowing for a fact—that you aren't alone.
How to apply the "Benedetti Deal" today
Honestly, we could all use a little more of this energy. In a world of ghosting and temporary "situationships," the idea of a clear, honest "deal" is actually pretty refreshing.
It’s about saying: "Look, I’m not perfect. I’m going to be grumpy sometimes. But I’m here. And I need to know you’re here too."
It’s simple. It’s direct. It’s incredibly hard to do.
If you want to dive deeper into his work, check out his novel La Tregua (The Truce). It carries many of the same themes—the idea that love is a small, quiet miracle that happens in the middle of a boring, bureaucratic life.
Next Steps:
Go listen to the Joan Manuel Serrat version on Spotify or YouTube. Pay attention to the way he pauses after the word "compañera." Then, read the text of the poem again, but this time, think about someone in your life who actually fits the description of a "compañero"—someone you don't just love, but someone you can actually count on.