Their musical style covers a wide variety of genres, though it is most commonly labeled as Rock en Español. Their music has been heavily influenced by Mexico's indigenous population and folk music traditions, most notable the Jarocho style of the state of Veracruz, but also by punk and electronic music and other bands in the Mexico City scene. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of their music is Albarrán's nasal voice, which, combined with his impressive lung capacity (as demonstrated on "La Ingrata", an homage to norteño music), makes for a very distinctive sound. They sing entirely in Spanish but have a significant Anglophone following regardless.
They have an especially eclectic sound, and it's commonly said that none of their discs is of exactly the same genre. For example, "Maria" is a bolero style ballad, "La Ingrata" is a mix of rock and "norteño" , while "Eres", a hit included in "Cuatro Caminos" album, is mostly pop-rock.
They were founded in 1989, and since then have had the same musical lineup:
* Rubén Isaac Albarrán Ortega aka "Pinche Juan" ("Fuckin Juan"), "Cosme", "Anónimo" (Anonymous), "Nrü" (pronounced "dshyoo", [dʃju] in IPA), "Amparo Tonto Medardo In Lak'ech" (or "At Medardo ILK"), "G3", "Gallo Gasss", "Élfego Buendía", "Sizu Yantra" (which is his solo moniker as well), "Rita Cantalagua", "Ixi Xoo" and many others. (vocals, guitar)
* Emmanuel "Meme" del Real Díaz: (keyboards, acoustic guitar, piano, programming, vocals, melodion)
* José Alfredo "Joselo" Rangel Arroyo: (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals)
* Enrique 'Quique' Rangel Arroyo: (bass guitar, electric upright bass, vocals)
Mexican folk music player Alejandro Flores is considered the 5th tacubo, as he has played the violin in almost every Café Tacuba concert since 1994. Since the Cuatro Caminos World Tour, Luis "El Children" Ledezma has played the drums in every concert but is not considered an official member of the band.
**Previously known as "Alicia Ya No Vive Aquí" (a tribute to Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore), the band took its final name from a coffee shop (el Café de Tacuba) located in downtown Mexico City. The cafe, which opened in 1912 and had its heyday in the 1940s and 1950s, was representative of the Pachuco scene at the time, something the band would later acknowledge as an influence. The Café de Tacuba is still in operation as a coffee shop and restaurant on Tacuba Street, in Mexico City's Historic Center. The band changed its name to Café Tacvba (changing the u for a v) in order to avoid legal issues with the coffee shop.
1989
Mexico City, Mexico
Volcán
Café Tacvba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mira lo que hemos hecho, la gema en tu pecho,
¿Dime con qué?
Mira tus huesos rotos y tu belleza desfallecer,
Mira que sin querer yo te he lastimado queriéndote.
Mira que tú me has dado todo, todo, y así pagué,
Y con mi canto, yo tejo este manto,
Que te vengo a ofrecer...
Que va adornado con jades de llanto,
Tanto te he hecho padecer...
Quitar la seda opaca de estos mis ojos en tu manantial,
Con esa poca de agua lavar mi boca de todo mal,
Navaja de obsidiana es el silencio en mi pecho ya,
Adentro en la lejanía podré volverte a abrazar.
Vuelo sobre tus mares, entre tus montes, sobre el maizal,
Libre la serpiente vuela, profeta Venus Kukulcan,
Y con mi saliva busco una salida, sabía savia tan vital,
Que te sane madre, mi alma que arde como un bello...
Volcán....
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Volcán
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Volcán
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
The lyrics to Café Tacvba's song "Volcán" are deeply introspective and contemplative. The song is a conversation with a lover whom the singer has hurt unintentionally. He acknowledges the pain he has caused and expresses remorse for his actions. In the first verse, the singer reflects on the damage he has done to his lover, likening it to tearing out veins and causing injury. He then calls attention to the "gema" (gem) in his lover's chest, perhaps referring to a heart or soul that he has damaged. He asks his lover how he can make it up to him or what he can do to make things right.
The second verse continues the theme of remorse and guilt. The singer acknowledges his lover's suffering and brokenness, recognizing that he has unintentionally caused it. He notes that his lover has given him everything, and he has repaid that generosity with pain and thoughtlessness. He also mentions that there were opportunities and potential (semillas) that he failed to take advantage of, further compounding his mistakes.
The song's chorus repeats the word "Volcán" multiple times, perhaps as a reference to the intense passion and emotion that can erupt between two people. The bridge of the song presents a more hopeful perspective. The singer vows to wash away the negative feelings and impulses that led to his damaging behavior. He seeks healing for himself and his lover, and he envisions a reunion in the future where they can embrace once again.
Overall, "Volcán" is a poignant and introspective song about the complexities of love and relationships. It acknowledges the pain and difficulties that can arise in even the strongest connections and suggests that healing and redemption are possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Mira lo que hicimos rasgando venas, hiriéndote,
Look at what we have done by cutting veins, hurting you,
Mira lo que hemos hecho, la gema en tu pecho,
Look at what we have done by putting the gem on your chest,
¿Dime con qué?
Tell me with what?
Mira tus huesos rotos y tu belleza desfallecer,
See how your bones are broken and your beauty fading away,
Mira que sin querer yo te he lastimado queriéndote.
Realize that I unintentionally hurt you while loving you.
Mira que tú me has dado todo, todo, y así pagué,
See that you gave me everything and this is how I repay you,
Mira que entre tus huertos había semillas que desperdicié.
See that I wasted the seeds in your gardens.
Y con mi canto, yo tejo este manto,
And with my singing, I weave this cloak,
Que te vengo a ofrecer...
That I come to offer you...
Que va adornado con jades de llanto,
That is decorated with jade tears,
Tanto te he hecho padecer...
So much I made you suffer...
Quitar la seda opaca de estos mis ojos en tu manantial,
Remove the cloudy silk from my eyes in your spring,
Con esa poca de agua lavar mi boca de todo mal,
With that little water, cleanse my mouth from all evil,
Navaja de obsidiana es el silencio en mi pecho ya,
Obsidian knife is the silence in my chest now,
Adentro en la lejanía podré volverte a abrazar.
Inside the distance, I'll be able to hug you again.
Vuelo sobre tus mares, entre tus montes, sobre el maizal,
Flying over your seas, among your mountains, over the cornfield,
Libre la serpiente vuela, profeta Venus Kukulcan,
The serpent flies freely, prophet Venus Kukulcan,
Y con mi saliva busco una salida, sabía savia tan vital,
And with my saliva, I look for an exit, wise and vital sap,
Que te sane madre, mi alma que arde como un bello...
May it heal you, mother; my soul that burns like a beautiful...
Volcán....
Volcano....
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Volcán
Volcano
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... aaah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Aaah... ah... ah... aah...
Contributed by Evelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
DR. GARCIA
Mira lo que hicimos rasgando venas, hiriéndote
Mira lo que hemos hecho, la gema en tu pecho
¿Dime con qué?
Mira tus huesos rotos y tu belleza desfallecer
Mira que sin querer yo te he lastimado queriéndote
Mira que tú me has dado todo, todo
Y así pagué
Mira que entre tus huertos había semillas que desperdicié
Y con mi canto, yo tejo este manto
Que te vengo a ofrecer
Que va adornado con jades de llanto
Tanto te he hecho padecer
Quitar la seda opaca de estos mis ojos en tu manantial
Con esa poca de agua lavar mi boca de todo mal
Navaja de obsidiana es el silencio en mi pecho ya
Adentro en la lejanía podré volverte a abrazar
Vuelo sobre tus mares, entre tus montes, sobre el maizal
Libre la serpiente vuela, profeta Venus Kukulcan
Y con mi saliva busco una salida
Sabía savia tan vital
Que te sane madre, mi alma que arde como un bello
Volcán ah
Volcán
MoraLee

Volcán
Café Tacvba

Mira lo que hicimos rasgando venas, hiriéndote
Mira lo que hemos hecho, la gema en tu pecho
¿Dime con qué?
Mira tus huesos rotos y tu belleza desfallecer
Mira que sin querer yo te he lastimado queriéndote.
Mira que tú me has dado todo, todo
Y así pagué
Mira que entre tus huertos había semillas que desperdicié.
Y con mi canto, yo tejo este manto
Que te vengo a ofrecer
Que va adornado con jades de llanto
Tanto te he hecho padecer.
Quitar la seda opaca de estos mis ojos en tu manantial
Con esa poca de agua lavar mi boca de todo mal,
Navaja de obsidiana es el silencio en mi pecho ya,
Adentro en la lejanía podré volverte a abrazar.
Vuelo sobre tus mares, entre tus montes, sobre el maizal
Libre la serpiente vuela, profeta Venus Kukulcan
Y con mi saliva busco una salida
Sabía savia tan vital,
Que te sane madre, mi alma que arde como un bello...
Volcán ah ah
Ah ah ah
Volcán.
Shar Lee RV Music
Solo grupos que alcanzan el nivel necesario de madurez tienen la capacidad y pueden darse el lujo de sacar canciones como esta obra de arte.
Alejandro GC
exacto, saludos desde la CDMX!!!
Marco Efren Avila
Es correcto
Meu olhar
Sigo ouvindo e amando essa super banda! Que maravilhosos que são! Divinos! Sublimes!!! Essa música é um hino à mãe 🌎♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
jaguaron007
Esto no es solo una canción, es toda una ceremonia con ofrenda y todo a nuestra madre tierra.
LIVE MUSIC METAL ROCK VIVO
Una de las más grandes canciones escritas en toda la historia de la música, sin lugar a dudas.
Alma Rosa Escobedo Lechuga
Pocos entienden esta obra de arte tan sublime llamada Café Tacvba.
DR. GARCIA
Mira lo que hicimos rasgando venas, hiriéndote
Mira lo que hemos hecho, la gema en tu pecho
¿Dime con qué?
Mira tus huesos rotos y tu belleza desfallecer
Mira que sin querer yo te he lastimado queriéndote
Mira que tú me has dado todo, todo
Y así pagué
Mira que entre tus huertos había semillas que desperdicié
Y con mi canto, yo tejo este manto
Que te vengo a ofrecer
Que va adornado con jades de llanto
Tanto te he hecho padecer
Quitar la seda opaca de estos mis ojos en tu manantial
Con esa poca de agua lavar mi boca de todo mal
Navaja de obsidiana es el silencio en mi pecho ya
Adentro en la lejanía podré volverte a abrazar
Vuelo sobre tus mares, entre tus montes, sobre el maizal
Libre la serpiente vuela, profeta Venus Kukulcan
Y con mi saliva busco una salida
Sabía savia tan vital
Que te sane madre, mi alma que arde como un bello
Volcán ah
Volcán
Kouki Monster
DR. GARCIA no mames! que letra tan mas chingona. suena como que habla de la madre naturalesa que tanto nos da
TR Vldz
Amo esta canción. Es un llamado a mi conciencia ❤️