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.
Trabaja Niño Trabaja
El Tri Lyrics
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Porque el gobierno algún día va a necesitar de ti
Trabaja niño, trabaja
Porque el gobierno algún día te va a necesitar
Lolita algún día va a querer que le des gasto
Y hacienda
Algún día va a querer que te moches
Y cada vez va a querer que te moches mas
Trabaja pueblo, trabaja
Porque el país cada día va a necesitar mas de ti
Trabaja pueblo, trabaja
Porque el gobierno cada vez te va a exigir mas
Lolita cada día quiere que le des mas gasto
Y hacienda cada día quiere que te moches mas
Cada día quiere mucho mas
Suben la gas y la tenencia
Las medicinas y el alcohol
Y es que don Justino Morales
Cada día afila mas las garras
Justino no perdona nada
Hacienda no perdona a nadie
Y cada día hay que pagar mas
Trabaja soldado, trabaja
Porque el país cada día necesita mas de ti
Trabaja soldado, trabaja
Porque el país cada día te necesita mas
Lolita cada día quiere que le den mas gasto
Y hacienda
Cada ves quieren que se mochen mas
Cada día quieren que se mochen mucho mas
Cada vez quiere mas y mas
Sube el teléfono la luz y el pan
Sube el transporte y el predial
Y es que don Justino Morales
Cada día afila mas las garras
The song "Trabaja Niño Trabaja" by El Tri is a commentary on the government's exploitation of the working class in Mexico. The lyrics implore children, the general population, and soldiers to work harder, because the government will always demand more from them. The first verse addresses children directly, urging them to work hard because one day the government will need them. However, the government's needs are portrayed as insidious and self-serving. The second verse urges the people of Mexico to work harder each day, because the government will continue to impose more demands on them. The government's greed is further emphasized by the repeated mention of Lolita's increasing financial demands and Hacienda's increasing demands for "moches," or bribes.
The lyrics also allude to the rising cost of living in Mexico, with the increasing prices of gas, tenencia, medicines, alcohol, telephone, electricity, and bread. The name "Justino Morales" is used in the song to represent corrupt government officials who will stop at nothing to extract money from the people. The song concludes with a final plea for soldiers to work harder, as the country needs them more than ever.
Overall, "Trabaja Niño Trabaja" is a powerful criticism of the government's manipulation and exploitation of the hardworking people of Mexico, and serves as a call to action for the population to resist and fight back against such oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
Trabaja niño, trabaja
Work, child, work
Porque el gobierno algún día va a necesitar de ti
Because someday the government will need you
Trabaja niño, trabaja
Work, child, work
Porque el gobierno algún día te va a necesitar
Because someday the government will need you
Lolita algún día va a querer que le des gasto
Lolita will someday want you to spend money on her
Y hacienda algún día va a querer que te moches
And the Treasury will someday want you to tighten your belt
Y cada vez va a querer que te moches mas
And each time they'll want you to tighten your belt even more
Trabaja pueblo, trabaja
Work, people, work
Porque el país cada día va a necesitar mas de ti
Because the country will need more of you every single day
Trabaja pueblo, trabaja
Work, people, work
Porque el gobierno cada vez te va a exigir mas
Because the government will demand more and more from you
Lolita cada día quiere que le des mas gasto
Lolita wants you to spend more and more every day
Y hacienda cada día quiere que te moches mas
And the Treasury wants you to tighten your belt more and more every day
Cada día quiere mucho mas
Every day they want more and more
Suben la gas y la tenencia
They raise gas prices and taxes
Las medicinas y el alcohol
They raise the prices of medicine and alcohol
Y es que don Justino Morales
Because Mr. Justino Morales
Cada día afila mas las garras
Sharpens his claws every day
Justino no perdona nada
Justino forgives nothing
Hacienda no perdona a nadie
The Treasury forgives no one
Y cada día hay que pagar mas
And every day you have to pay more
Trabaja soldado, trabaja
Work, soldier, work
Porque el país cada día necesita mas de ti
Because the country needs more and more of you every day
Trabaja soldado, trabaja
Work, soldier, work
Porque el país cada día te necesita mas
Because the country needs you more and more every day
Lolita cada día quiere que le den mas gasto
Lolita wants more and more spending every day
Y hacienda cada ves quieren que se mochen mas
And the Treasury wants you to tighten your belt more and more every time
Cada día quieren que se mochen mucho mas
Every day they want you to tighten your belt even more
Cada vez quiere mas y mas
They want more and more each time
Sube el teléfono la luz y el pan
Telephone, electricity, and bread prices go up
Sube el transporte y el predial
Transportation and property taxes go up
Y es que don Justino Morales
Because Mr. Justino Morales
Cada día afila mas las garras
Sharpens his claws every day
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEJANDRO LORA SERNA, PEDRO MARTINEZ JUAREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind