The band started when Jorge González and Miguel Tapia decided to start their own band while being high school students. They were inexperienced but enthusiastic, after many practices and writing songs, they asked Claudio Narea if he would like to join them, and impressed by the music they were making, he accepted. Towards the early 80's they went through some name changes and before settling on "Los Prisioneros" they had the name "Los Vinchukas" as their original name. In 1983, they had played a number of local shows and that's when they met Carlos Fonseca, their future manager. Through him, they managed to score a record deal with Fusión Producciones.
In 1984, the band's debut album was released, with the hit song "La Voz De Los '80" (which was never a single). They reached acclaim in the radio and by the next year they would be touring. In 1986, their long awaited second album "Pateando Piedras" went double Platinum album in Chile. By that time, the group was invited to perform at Argentina's Chateau Rock Festival and later to a similar event in Montevideo, Uruguay. They continued touring and they became more successful mainstream wise.
The band disbanded in 1992, then as a quartet with additional members Cecilia Aguayo (keyboards) and Robert Rodríguez (guitar), since Claudio Narea had left the band earlier in 1990.
The original lineup of the band decided to get back together in 2001, offering two massive concerts in the National Stadium of Santiago, and then releasing "Los Prisioneros", their first original studio album in 13 years. However, internal problems between González and Narea led again to the departure of the guitarist in 2001. Los Prisioneros continued working as a duet with guest members like Álvaro Henríquez whom with they released a cover album. In 2004 two additional musicians joined the band: Sergio "Coty" Badilla and Gonzalo Yáñez, releasing their sixth album Manzana the same year. A little while after the release of the album band members decided to establish themselves in Mexico, attempting to get more international exposure. Yáñez decided not to leave Chile and left the band. After touring through several locations in North and South America, they finally disbanded in 2006.
Por Qué No Se Van
Los Prisioneros Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Te quejas de nuestra gente y de su ropa
Vives amando el cine arte del Normandi
Si eres artista y los indios no te entienden
Si tu vanguardia aquí no se vende
Si crees ser occidental de segunda mano
Por qué no te vas
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Si viajas todos los años a Italia
Si la cultura es tan rica en Alemania
Por qué el próximo año no te quedas allá
Si aquí tu tienes los medios que reclamas
Si aquí tu genio y talento no da fama
Si tu apellido no es Gonzáles ni Tapia
Por qué no te vas
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Oh, oh
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Por qué no se van
No se van del país
Oh, oh
The song "Por Qué No Se Van" by Los Prisioneros is an anthem for those who are fed up with the self-exiled intellectuals, artists, and talented minds, who claim that the country is not good enough for them. The song starts with a sarcastic tone, with the singer pointing out that those who dream of New York and Europe and criticize their country's clothing or people, yet appreciate the artwork at the Normandi movie theater, should leave. The song's main point is that intellectuals and artists who claim to be misunderstood by "the indians" and whose works fail to sell in the country, should leave and never come back. The singer suggests that if someone believes they are Westerners second hand, they should pack their bags and leave.
The second part of the song is more critical of those who travel every year to Italy or claim that German culture is richer. The singer accuses them of not appreciating the means that the country provides to them to grow and succeed. He also notes that their genius and talent do not grant them fame in their homeland. The singer ironically asks why people with surnames different than Gonzales or Tapia do not leave if they feel the country is not good enough.
In conclusion, the song speaks to those who believe that the grass is greener on the other side, those who look down on their country but take advantage of every opportunity it provides. It is a bold statement that asserts the importance of national pride and encourages people to contribute to their country's growth and development.
Line by Line Meaning
Si sueñas con Nueva York y con Europa
If you dream of New York and Europe
Te quejas de nuestra gente y de su ropa
You complain about our people and their clothing
Vives amando el cine arte del Normandi
You live loving the art cinema of Normandi
Si eres artista y los indios no te entienden
If you are an artist and the indigenous people do not understand you
Si tu vanguardia aquí no se vende
If your avant-garde art does not sell here
Si crees ser occidental de segunda mano
If you believe yourself to be a second-hand Westerner
Por qué no te vas
Why don't you leave
Por qué no se van
Why don't they leave the country
No se van del país
They do not leave the country
Si viajas todos los años a Italia
If you travel to Italy every year
Si la cultura es tan rica en Alemania
If the culture is so rich in Germany
Por qué el próximo año no te quedas allá
Why don't you stay there next year
Si aqui to tienes los medios que reclamas
If you have the means you claim to have here
Si aqui tu genio y talento no da fama
If your genius and talent do not bring fame here
Si tu apellido no es Gonzáles ni Tapia
If your last name is not Gonzales or Tapia
Por qué no te vas
Why don't you leave
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jorge Gonzalez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikhagonzales6440
Si sueñas con Nueva York y con Europa
Te quejas de nuestra gente y de su ropa
Vives amando el cine arte del Normandie
Si eres artista y los indios no te entienden
Si tu vanguardia aquí no se vende
Si quieres ser occidental de segunda mano
¿Por qué no te vas?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
Si viajas todos los años a Italia
Si la cultura es tan rica en Alemania
¿Por qué el próximo año no te quedas allá?
Si aquí no tienen los medios que reclamas
Si aquí tu genio y talento no da fama
Si tu apellido no es González ni Tapia
¿Por qué no te vas?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
Oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
González ni Tapia
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
¿Por qué no se van
No se van del país?
Oh, oh-oh
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
@wilynaveros2429
Estos muchachos ya hicieron lo que tenían que hacer en esta vida, dar un gran mensaje a su pueblo y al nuestro. Gracias hermanos Chilenos.
@MariaPerez-rj7oy
Falta una nueva generación, que sume arte.
@alexespejo721
No al comunismo
@talitoayala248
Nada mas que decir son historia en chile
Lo mas grandes ...
Y de generacion en generacion ...jamas seran olvidados
@carlosalfredocondorimamani4275
Soy peruano y como me gusta la música siempre lo escuchó y me traslada a los años 90 lo mejor de lo mejor gracias hermanos chilenos
@luisxxx100
@María Pérez yo :v
@oscarruizcardozo6058
Los Prisioneros no solo representan a Chile también al pensamiento de Latinoamérica entera.
@ranatoguillermo1447
Inolvidables. Toda la razón del hermano peruano. Son latinos geniales.
@luisxxx100
Es cerdad compatriota ( soy chileno-peruano)
@sebascaride4582
La verdad no, no soy comunista gracias