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.
Mente roquera
El Tri Lyrics
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Quiero sentirme orgullosa de mi hijo,
Quiero que seas arquitecto o doctor, o quizas llegues a senador.
Mi mente dijo que no,
Mi cuerpo dijo que no,
Mi sangre dijo que no
Y aqui me tienes en el Rock and Roll.
Cuando en la escuela comenze a ir mal,
Queria pelarme como militar,
Y ponerme a trabajar.
Mi mente dijo que no,
Mi cuerpo dijo que no,
Mi sangre dijo que no
Y aqui me tienes en el Rock and Roll.
Y ya hace poco mi Jefa me dijo:
No aflojes en tu chamba mi hijo,
Y si lo tuyo es el Rock and Roll,
Pues dale duro y que te bendiga Dios.
Mi mente dijo que si,
Mi cuerpo dijo que si,
Mi sangre dijo que si,
Y aqui me tienes en el Rock and Roll.
The lyrics to El Tri's song Mente Roquera describe the conflict between the expectations of the singer's parents and his own desires to pursue a career in rock and roll music. The song begins with the singer recalling his mother's aspirations for him to become an architect, doctor, or senator. However, he ultimately chooses to follow his passion for rock and roll. The singer's father also disapproves of his academic performance and tries to pressure him into joining the military and working instead of pursuing music. Despite this, the singer stays true to himself and continues to pursue rock and roll. In the end, his mother realizes that his passion for music is genuine and encourages him to work hard and pursue his dreams.
The song can be seen as a reflection of the generational conflicts that were common in Mexico during the late 20th century. Many parents of that era placed a strong emphasis on academic achievement and professional success, often at the expense of artistic or creative pursuits. As a result, many young people rebelled against these expectations and sought out new forms of self-expression, such as rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
Cuando era nio, mi Jefa me dijo:
When I was a child, my mother told me:
Quiero sentirme orgullosa de mi hijo,
I want to feel proud of my son,
Quiero que seas arquitecto o doctor, o quizas llegues a senador.
I want you to be an architect or a doctor, or maybe even a senator.
Mi mente dijo que no,
My mind said no,
Mi cuerpo dijo que no,
My body said no,
Mi sangre dijo que no
My blood said no
Y aqui me tienes en el Rock and Roll.
And here I am in rock and roll.
Cuando en la escuela comenze a ir mal,
When I started doing poorly in school,
Mi Jefe me mando llamar,
My father called me,
Queria pelarme como militar,
He wanted to send me to military school,
Y ponerme a trabajar.
And make me work.
Y ya hace poco mi Jefa me dijo:
And just recently my mother told me,
No aflojes en tu chamba mi hijo,
Don't slack off in your job, my son,
Y si lo tuyo es el Rock and Roll,
And if your thing is rock and roll,
Pues dale duro y que te bendiga Dios.
Then give it your all and may God bless you.
Mi mente dijo que si,
My mind said yes,
Mi cuerpo dijo que si,
My body said yes,
Mi sangre dijo que si,
My blood said yes,
Y aqui me tienes en el Rock and Roll.
And here I am in rock and roll.
Writer(s): Alejandro Lora Serna
Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.