Argentinean folk-rock band Sui Generis was formed in Buenos Aires, Argentin… Read Full Bio ↴Argentinean folk-rock band Sui Generis was formed in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1971 by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Charly García and singer/instrumentalist Nito Mestre, who met while being high school students. Their first record, called Vida, was released in 1972, followed by 1973's Confesiones de Invierno. The following year, bassist Rinaldo Rafanelli and drummer Juan Rodríguez joined the act, soon recording Pequeñas Anécdotas Sobre Las Instituciones. Due to internal discrepancies, the group decided to perform for the last time at Buenos Aires' Luna Park on September 5, 1975. That farewell concert was recorded and later issued as Adiós Sui Generis, a double album and documentary considered to be a major event in the Latin American Rock history. The band reunited temporarily in two occasions: One in 1980 to play shows in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Santiago de Chile and in the year 2000, in which Sui Generis returned with the album "Sinfonía Para Adolescentes" and an brief tour.

Botas Locas
Sui Generis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo form parte de un ejrcito loco
Tenia 20 aos y el pelo muy corto.
Pero mi amigo hubo una confusin
Porque para ellos el loco era yo.
Es un juego simple el de ser soldado
Ellos siempre insultan, yo siempre callado
Descans muy poco y me puse malo
Las estupideces empiezan temprano.

Los intolerantes no entendieron nada
Ellos decian guerra, yo decia no gracias
Amar a la patria bien nos exigieron
Si ellos son la patria yo soy extranjero
Yo form parte de un ejrcito loco
Tenia 20 aos y el pelo muy corto.
Pero mi amigo hubo una confusin
Porque para ellos el loco era yo.
Se daran cuenta que aquel lugar
Era insoportable para alguien normal
Por eso me dije basta de quejarme
Yo me vuelvo a casa y decidi largarme
Les grit bien fuerte lo que yo creia
Acerca de todo lo que ellos hacian
Evidentemente les cay muy mal
Y asi es que me echaron del cuartel general.
Yo form parte de un ejrcito loco
Tenia 20 aos y el pelo muy corto.
Pero mi amigo hubo una confusin
Porque para ellos el loco era yo.
Si todos juntos tomamos la idea
Que la libertad no es una pelea
Se cambiarian todos los papeles
Y estarian vacios muchos mas cuarteles
Porque a usar las armas bien nos ensearon
Y creo que eso es lo delicado
Pienselo un momento seor general
Porque yo de usted me sentiria muy mal
Yo form parte de un ejrcito loco
Tenia 20 aos y el pelo muy corto.
Pero mi amigo hubo una confusin
Porque para ellos el loco era yo.
Yo form parte de un ejrcito loco
Tenia 20 aos y el pelo muy corto.

Pero mi amigo hubo una confusin
Porque para ellos el loco era yo.

Overall Meaning

The song "Botas Locas" by Sui Generis tells the story of a young man who joins the army and becomes disillusioned with the experience. He describes his time in the army as being a part of a "crazy army" and initially tries to fit in by keeping quiet and accepting the insults of his fellow soldiers. However, he eventually becomes sick from lack of rest and begins to question the motivations and actions of those around him. He comes to the realization that the military life is not for him and decides to leave.

Throughout the song, the singer challenges the notion of blind patriotism and the glorification of war. He questions why the use of weapons is seen as essential and emphasizes the importance of freedom as opposed to fighting. He also notes the intolerance of some members of the military who do not understand his decision to leave and instead label him as the "crazy" one. The lyrics showcase a strong anti-war message and encourage listeners to think critically about the perceived nobility of joining the military.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo form parte de un ejrcito loco
I was a part of a crazy army.

Tenia 20 aos y el pelo muy corto.
I was 20 years old and had short hair.

Pero mi amigo hubo una confusin
But my friend made a mistake.

Porque para ellos el loco era yo.
Because for them, I was the crazy one.

Es un juego simple el de ser soldado
Being a soldier is a simple game.

Ellos siempre insultan, yo siempre callado
They always insulted, I always stayed quiet.

Descans muy poco y me puse malo
I didn't rest much and got sick.

Las estupideces empiezan temprano.
Stupidity starts early.

Los intolerantes no entendieron nada
The intolerant ones didn't understand anything.

Ellos decian guerra, yo decia no gracias
They said war, I said no thanks.

Amar a la patria bien nos exigieron
They demanded that we love the country.

Si ellos son la patria yo soy extranjero
If they are the country, then I am a foreigner.

Se daran cuenta que aquel lugar
They will realize that that place

Era insoportable para alguien normal
Was unbearable for a normal person.

Por eso me dije basta de quejarme
That's why I said enough of complaining.

Yo me vuelvo a casa y decidi largarme
I'm going back home and decided to leave.

Les grit bien fuerte lo que yo creia
I yelled at them what I believed.

Acerca de todo lo que ellos hacian
About everything they were doing.

Evidentemente les cay muy mal
Obviously, they didn't like it.

Y asi es que me echaron del cuartel general.
And that's how they kicked me out of the headquarters.

Si todos juntos tomamos la idea
If we all take the idea

Que la libertad no es una pelea
That freedom isn't a fight.

Se cambiarian todos los papeles
All the roles would change.

Y estarian vacios muchos mas cuarteles
And many more barracks would be empty.

Porque a usar las armas bien nos ensearon
Because they taught us how to use weapons well.

Y creo que eso es lo delicado
And I think that's the delicate part.

Pienselo un momento seor general
Think about it for a moment, General.

Porque yo de usted me sentiria muy mal
Because if I were you, I would feel very bad.