El Quinto Regimiento
Rolando Alarcon Lyrics
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El dieciocho de julio
en el patio de un convento
el pueblo madrileño
fundó el quinto regimiento.
ya se acabó el alboroto,
y vamos al tiroteo,
y vamos al tiroteo.
Con Lister y Campesino,
con Galán y con Modesto,
con el comandante Carlos
no hay miliciano con miedo.
Con los cuatro batallones
que a Madrid están defendiendo
se va lo mejor de España,
la flor más roja del pueblo.
Con el quinto, quinto, quinto,
con el quinto regimiento,
madre, yo me voy al frente
para las líneas de fuego.
Rolando Alarcón's song "El quinto regimiento" is a tribute to the fifth regiment that was formed in Madrid in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War. The song speaks of how on July 18th, in the courtyard of a convent, the people of Madrid founded the fifth regiment, expressing their desire to resist against the forces of fascism. The opening lines of the song describe the formation of the regiment in the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War, which saw a popular resistance movement rise against the fascist forces of General Francisco Franco. The people of Madrid sought to protect their city from the fascist forces, and the fifth regiment was seen as a symbol of their resistance.
The verses in the song speak of the leaders of the fifth regiment, who included Lister, Campesino, Galán, Modesto, and the comandante Carlos. These leaders were admired for their bravery and fearlessness, which galvanized the milicianos (militiamen) under their command. The song explains that the best of Spain, the "red flower of the people," is found within the ranks of the fifth regiment. The chorus, "Con el quinto, quinto, quinto, con el quinto regimiento," emphasizes the importance of the fifth regiment in the fight against fascism. The song's final lines express the singer's desire to join the troops at the front line.
Line by Line Meaning
El dieciocho de julio
On July 18th
en el patio de un convento
in the courtyard of a convent
el pueblo madrileño
the people of Madrid
fundó el quinto regimiento.
founded the fifth regiment.
Anda jaleo, jaleo,
Come on commotion, commotion,
ya se acabó el alboroto,
the commotion is over,
y vamos al tiroteo,
and let's go to the shooting,
y vamos al tiroteo.
and let's go to the shooting.
Con Lister y Campesino,
With Lister and Campesino,
con Galán y con Modesto,
with Galán and Modesto,
con el comandante Carlos
with Commander Carlos
no hay miliciano con miedo.
there's no militia man with fear.
Con los cuatro batallones
With the four battalions
que a Madrid están defendiendo
that are defending Madrid
se va lo mejor de España,
the best of Spain is leaving
la flor más roja del pueblo.
the reddest flower of the people.
Con el quinto, quinto, quinto,
With the fifth, fifth, fifth,
con el quinto regimiento,
with the fifth regiment,
madre, yo me voy al frente
Mother, I'm going to the front
para las líneas de fuego.
for the lines of fire.
Contributed by Jayden C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.