A native of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Vargas was a classically-trained tenor who originally sang opera but gained fame with his renditions of popular songs. He made many musical guest appearances in films from 1936 onward, but also had more substantial acting roles in a few pictures, achieving over 70 screen credits in total.
In 1942, Vargas performed at the White House for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, one of many honors he received during his long career. He also performed in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Vargas died in Mexico City, Mexico at age 83.
Soy Puro Mexicano
Pedro Vargas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Y me he echado el compromiso
Con la tierra en que nací
De ser macho entre los machos
Y por eso muy ufano, yo le canto a mi pís
Es mi gloria haber nacido
Bajo el sol que se ha encendido con la llama del valor
Echar ronda con mi suerte, con mi vida y con mi amor
Si yo le entro a los balazos
Y me gustan los trancazos es de puro vacilón
Pa' curarme las heridas
En los cariñosos brazos de la dueña de mi amor
Es mi rosa de las buenas
Pues me corre por las venas sangre de indio y español
Una para morir sonriendo
Y otra para vivir teniendo muy buen puesto el corazón
Por ahí dicen que en la tierra
Anda loca con la guerra y que hay mucha matazón
Pues que me echen submarinos
Y aeroplanos enemigos para darles un quemón
Echen tanques a montones
Y metrallas de cañones que nomás me hacen reír
Porque aquí está un mexicano
Que se muere muy ufano al pelear por su país
Yo soy puro mexicano
The lyrics of Pedro Vargas's song Soy Puro Mexicano are a celebration of Mexican identity and pride. The opening line, "Yo soy puro mexicano" ("I am pure Mexican"), establishes the theme of the song: the singer's commitment to his country and his identity as a Mexican. He emphasizes his masculinity and his bravery, singing "De ser macho entre los machos" ("To be a man among men"), and describes his willingness to face violence ("Si yo le entro a los balazos" - "If I enter into gunfights") as a "vacilón" or a form of playful enjoyment.
Despite the violent imagery, the singer also emphasizes his love for life and for his country, describing the blood in his veins as a mixture of indigenous and Spanish ancestry. He is proud to have been born beneath the sun of Mexico and is unafraid of death, which he sees as a companion to his luck, his life, and his love. In the final verse, he declares his commitment to defending his country against any attack, whether by submarine, airplane, tank, or cannon.
Overall, the lyrics of Soy Puro Mexicano are an expression of national pride that emphasizes traditional Mexican values such as bravery, love of life, and commitment to community. The song reflects the tumultuous historical period in which it was written, in which Mexico was facing political instability, economic hardship, and external threats from foreign powers. Against this backdrop, the song's celebration of Mexican identity and resilience is both a rallying cry and a statement of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo soy puro mexicano
I am a pure Mexican, born and bred on this land
Y me he echado el compromiso
And I have made a commitment
Con la tierra en que nací
To the land where I was born
De ser macho entre los machos
To be a real man among men
Y por eso muy ufano, yo le canto a mi pís
And that's why I sing proudly to my country
Es mi gloria haber nacido
It is my pride to have been born
Bajo el sol que se ha encendido con la llama del valor
Under the sun that has been ignited with the flame of bravery
Y me gusta ver la muerte
And I like to face death
Echar ronda con mi suerte, con mi vida y con mi amor
To party and gamble with my luck, my life, and my love
Si yo le entro a los balazos
If I engage in gunfights
Y me gustan los trancazos es de puro vacilón
And I enjoy the brawls only for fun
Pa' curarme las heridas
To heal my wounds
En los cariñosos brazos de la dueña de mi amor
In the loving arms of my beloved
Es mi rosa de las buenas
She is my good rose
Pues me corre por las venas sangre de indio y español
As I have a mix of indigenous and Spanish blood running through my veins
Una para morir sonriendo
One to die with a smile
Y otra para vivir teniendo muy buen puesto el corazón
And another to live with a strong heart
Por ahí dicen que en la tierra
They say on this land
Anda loca con la guerra y que hay mucha matazón
There is madness and a lot of killing due to the war
Pues que me echen submarinos
So let them throw submarines at me
Y aeroplanos enemigos para darles un quemón
And enemy planes to burn them down
Echen tanques a montones
Let them throw tanks at me in masses
Y metrallas de cañones que nomás me hacen reír
And shells from cannons that only make me laugh
Porque aquí está un mexicano
Because here stands a Mexican
Que se muere muy ufano al pelear por su país
Who is proud to die fighting for his country
Writer(s): Ernesto M. Cortazar Hernandez, Pedro Galindo Galarza
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.