Los Prisioneros was a Chilean rock band formed in San Miguel, Santiago, Chi… Read Full Bio ↴Los Prisioneros was a Chilean rock band formed in San Miguel, Santiago, Chile in 1982 by Jorge González (bass, vocals), Claudio Narea (guitar, backing vocals) and Miguel Tapia (drums, backing vocals). They began as a local band during the early 1980s, playing small shows in their neighborhood and high school. After selling a limited press number of their first album in Chile under the independent Fusión producciones label, they signed to EMI in 1985, re-releasing the same album on an LP record and Cassette. From that point on they reached mainstream success in Chile, then Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Eventually in the early 90's their albums were re-released completely in remastered Compact Disc form, this is when Chile was no longer run by a military regime which oppressed their music in the late 1980s. Throughout the 1990s their music spread out, reaching all of South and Central America as well as some parts of the U.S., Canada and Europe.

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, former University classmate of Jorge, 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 2003. 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.

Tren al sur
Los Prisioneros Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Siete y media en la mañana
Mi asiento toca la ventana
Estación central, segundo carro
Del ferrocarril que me llevará al sur

Ya estas fierros van andando
Y mi corazón esta saltando
Porque me llevan a las tierras

Donde al fin podré de nuevo

Respirar adentro y hondo
Alegrías del corazón, a ha ha

Y no me digas pobre
Por ir viajando así
No ves que estoy contento
No ves que voy feliz

Dos y media en la mañana
El olor se mete en la ventana
Son flores y mis animales
Que me dicen bienvenido al sur

Yo recuerdo a mi papito
Y no me importa estar solito
Porque me llevan a las tierras
Donde al fin podré de nuevo

Respirar adentro y hondo
Alegrías del corazón

Respirar adentro y hondo
Alegrías del corazón

Y no me digas pobre
Por ir viajando así
No ves que estoy contento
No ves que voy feliz
Viajando en este tren
En este tren al sur

Y no me digas pobre
Por ir viajando así
No ves que estoy contento
No ves que voy feliz
Viajando en este tren
En este tren al sur

Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur
Tren al sur

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Los Prisioneros's "Tren Al Sur" describe a train journey from Santiago, Chile to the southern regions of the country. The song begins with the singer sitting by the window early in the morning, waiting for the train to depart from the central station of Santiago. As the train moves forward, he feels his heart racing with anticipation and excitement for finally being able to breathe fresh air and experience the joys that the southern lands have to offer.

The singer reminisces about his father and their past memories but isn't bothered by being alone on a trip that promises to be fulfilling. The pleasant fragrance of flowers and animals mixed with excitement fills the air, and the singer can't help but think how content and happy he feels.

The chorus of "Y no me digas pobre, por ir viajando así" (Don't call me poor for traveling like this) sends a message of contentment and happiness despite the lack of material wealth. The singer feels rich in experience and joy, and nothing can take away that feeling.

Line by Line Meaning

Siete y media en la mañana
It's 7:30 in the morning

Mi asiento toca la ventana
My seat is by the window

Estación central, segundo carro
Central station, second carriage

Del ferrocarril que me llevará al sur
Of the train that will take me south

Ya estas fierros van andando
These iron wheels are already moving

Y mi corazón esta saltando
And my heart is jumping

Porque me llevan a las tierras
Because they're taking me to the lands

Donde al fin podré de nuevo
Where at last I can

Respirar adentro y hondo
Breathe deeply inward

Alegrías del corazón, a ha ha
Joys of the heart, ha ha ha

Y no me digas pobre
And don't call me poor