Among their greatest hits -after their Three Souls era- "Triste Cancion" (based on Neil Young's "Like a Hurricane"), "Metro Balderas" (originally by Rodrigo Gonzalez), and "Piedras Rodantes" are probably the most known and have the quality of Anthems. Favorite bluesy songs such as "Oye Cantinero" and "ADO" belong to their Three Souls era, but are included in compilations and newer versions (from live concert recordings) abound.
Dónde quedo la bolita
El Tri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Todo el mundo se lava las manos
Y nadie sabe quien fue
Dicen que es culpa de pemex
Que es culpa de la aceitera
O descuido del gobernador
El caso es que mucha gente dejo de existir
Jalisco esta de luto
Por lo que paso
Muchos perdieron la vida
Y todavia ahorita nadie sabe
Nadie sabe por que
El caso es que mucha gente dejo de existir
Y para colmo de males
Nunca faltan los vivales
Que se aprovechan de la situacion
Hicieron dos tres tocadas
Quesque para juntar una lana
Pamandarla palla
Pero a guadalajara
Nunca a llegado nada
Y nunca, jamas llegara
Es que dos tres ratas se atracaron la feria
Las ratas vivales se atracaron la feria
Hicieron negocio gracias a la tragedia
El Tri's song "Dónde quedo la bolita" is a social commentary on the devastating explosion that occurred in the Mexican state of Jalisco on April 22, 1992. The song is a criticism of the authorities who failed to take responsibility and provide answers for the tragedy, and also addresses the corruption and greed that often follows natural disasters.
The lyrics, "Todo el mundo se lava las manos y nadie sabe quien fue" ("Everyone washes their hands and nobody knows who did it") highlight the complete lack of accountability that occurred after the explosion. The blame was quickly shifted onto PEMEX, a Mexican petroleum company, and the local governor, but nobody was held responsible for the catastrophic failure of the gasoline pipeline. The chorus, "¿Dónde quedó la bolita?" ("Where did the ball go?"), is a metaphor for the case, with "the ball" representing the responsibility for the disaster that no one wants to take.
The song also touches on the opportunistic actions of those who took advantage of the tragedy for their own gain. The lyrics, "Hicieron dos tres tocadas, quesque para juntar una lana, pamandarla palla" ("They organized a few concerts, supposedly to raise money, but it's all been sent elsewhere"), criticize the fact that while people were donating money to help the victims, there were those who were pocketing the funds and diverting them away from the people who desperately needed them.
Line by Line Meaning
Donde quedo la bolita
The question of responsibility for a devastating incident remains unanswered.
Todo el mundo se lava las manos
Everyone denies any wrongdoing or responsibility.
Y nadie sabe quien fue
Nobody knows who is truly accountable.
Dicen que es culpa de pemex
There are claims that the oil company is responsible.
Que es culpa de la aceitera
Others believe the fault lies with the oil refinery.
O descuido del gobernador
Some say the governor's negligence is to blame.
El caso es que mucha gente dejo de existir
The tragedy resulted in the loss of many lives.
Jalisco esta de luto
The state of Jalisco is mourning.
Y la gente se siente ofendida
The people feel anger and outrage.
Por lo que paso
Due to what happened.
Muchos perdieron la vida
Many lost their lives.
Y todavia ahorita nadie sabe
To this day, nobody knows the truth.
Nadie sabe por que
No one knows the reason behind the tragedy.
Y para colmo de males
To make matters worse.
Nunca faltan los vivales
The opportunists are always present.
Que se aprovechan de la situacion
They take advantage of the situation.
Hicieron dos tres tocadas
They organized a few events.
Quesque para juntar una lana
Supposedly to raise funds.
Pamandarla palla
But they simply pocketed the money.
Pero a guadalajara
Despite their claims, nothing was delivered to Guadalajara.
Nunca a llegado nada
Nothing has ever arrived.
Y nunca, jamas llegara
And it never will.
Es que dos tres ratas se atracaron la feria
The truth is that a few thieves stole the money.
Las ratas vivales se atracaron la feria
The opportunistic thieves stole the funds intended for the victims.
Hicieron negocio gracias a la tragedia
They profited from the tragedy.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEJANDRO LORA SERNA, PEDRO MARTINEZ JUAREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind