The year when legendary songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat announced he would retire from the stage, his career continues to accumulate awards. The latest was one of the greats: the Grand Cross of the Civil Order of Alfonso X el Sabio, hand-delivered by Spanish President Pedro Sánchez.

"I am excited and very happy at the same time," Serrat said after receiving the prestigious award just two months before starting his farewell tour, which will start on April 27 in New York.

However, what really mattered to the musician was that he received the recognition in front of his children.

"Beyond seeing a human being in underpants at home, and seeing me in such disconcerting situations for so many years in their lives, now they know that there is a person who has worked and has done other things," he said during the ceremony held at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid.

Among the laughter of the attendees and the Spanish president, Serrat pointed out that the title is usually granted to "people who are older and about to retire." The musician acknowledged that he had no record of who the previous winners were, and when he searched on the internet, he realized that they were all great friends of him: Álvaro Mutis, Fernando Fernán Gómez, Conchita Velasco or José Luis Cuerda.

"We will try to be a little like them," he said.

Next to him, Sánchez commented that “the cross that we deliver today is for an eternal child whom we will call from now on His Excellency. Very excellent poet, writer, lyricist, musician and citizen”. And he continued: “we want to join you on this journey, and this medal is the symbol of the immense affection that we profess for you.” 

For the Spanish president, the singer's lyrics have inspired values ​​that "now we should claim," such as coexistence, freedom and love for culture.

"The value of your contribution is to have gone beyond what is purely literary or artistic, and demonstrate that poetry is a weapon loaded for the future," said Sánchez. He also recognized Serrat's contribution to show the linguistic diversity that exists in the Spanish state.

"Our story has been sung by you," he concluded.

His farewell tour, titled 'El vice de cantar 1965-2022,' will end in Barcelona on Dec. 23. In the words of the 77-year-old artist, he wanted to schedule this tour to "personally say goodbye to the public with whom I have shared life and songs for more than half a century. I didn't like feeling fired by a plague."