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.
Puros Changos
El Tri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
El dueño del circo la toalla ya quiere aventar
Pero como la función debe de continuar
Sacaron a todos los changos a rocanrolear
La gente enojada empezó a abandonar el lugar
Los gritos de changos su enojo no quieren calmar
Es que hoy cualquier chango nos quiere cantar rocanrol
Pirujas, trasvestis, estaires y dos tres vedettes
El traje de rocanrolero se quieren poner
Puros changos, puros pinches changos
Puros changos, puros pinches changos
Y es que hoy cualquier chango nos quiere cantar rocanrol
Lo cantan los perros los gatos y uno que otro buey
Maricas, Pirujas, trasverguis y dos tres vedettes
El traje de rocanrolero se quieren poner
Que Dios bendiga a la banda y al rocanrol
De gritos de changos y brujas líbranos señor
De gritos de hetairas y changos líbranos señor
De gritos de changos y hetairas
Líbranos señor
The opening line of "Puros Changos" by El Tri translates to "The stones have already tired of rolling so much." The song speaks on the frustration of the public with bad music being played everywhere. The owner of the circus uses a towel to signify surrender, but the show must go on, so all the monkeys are brought out to rock and roll. The angry people start leaving, and the shouting of the monkeys only makes them angrier. The monkeys imitate rock and roll music, which is frustrating to the listener because anyone and everyone is attempting it regardless of whether they have the skill set.
The song speaks about the effects of commercialization in the music industry. The music industry is driven by profit, and companies often promote music that is superficial and lacks substance. The song portrays the idea of monkeying to music as a symbol of the commercialization of music. The song then includes different groups like drag queens, actresses, and other people who wear a rock and roll image and pretend to be rockers. It is a mockery of those who jumped on the bandwagon of commercialized rock music.
Line by Line Meaning
Que ya se cansaron las piedras de tanto rodar
The stones are tired of rolling too much
El dueño del circo la toalla ya quiere aventar
The circus owner wants to throw in the towel
Pero como la función debe de continuar
But since the show must go on
Sacaron a todos los changos a rocanrolear
They brought out all the monkeys to rock and roll
La gente enojada empezó a abandonar el lugar
The angry people started leaving the place
Los gritos de changos su enojo no quieren calmar
The monkeys' screams don't want to calm their anger
Es que hoy cualquier chango nos quiere cantar rocanrol
It's just that today any monkey wants to sing rock and roll
Lo cantan los perros los gatos y uno que otro buey
Dogs, cats, and the occasional ox sing it too
Pirujas, trasvestis, estaires y dos tres vedettes
Prostitutes, transvestites, stars, and a few vedettes
El traje de rocanrolero se quieren poner
Want to wear the rock and roll outfit
Puros changos, puros pinches changos
Only monkeys, just damn monkeys
Y es que hoy cualquier chango nos quiere cantar rocanrol
And today any monkey wants to sing rock and roll
Lo cantan los perros los gatos y uno que otro buey
Dogs, cats, and the occasional ox sing it too
Maricas, Pirujas, trasverguis y dos tres vedettes
Homosexuals, prostitutes, transvestites, and a few stars
El traje de rocanrolero se quieren poner
Want to wear the rock and roll outfit
Que Dios bendiga a la banda y al rocanrol
God bless the band and rock and roll
De gritos de changos y brujas líbranos señor
Deliver us, Lord, from monkey and witch screams
De gritos de hetairas y changos líbranos señor
Deliver us, Lord, from hetaira and monkey screams
De gritos de changos y hetairas
From monkey and hetaira screams
Líbranos señor
Deliver us, Lord
Contributed by Penelope D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.