Three Souls was part of a burgeoning Mexican rock movement that had ties to rock's African American roots, the U.S. counterculture, and the then-globalizing recording industry. As rock in Mexico was originally seen as "inauthentic" when sung in Spanish, Three Souls mostly sang covers of American rock and blues songs in English. However, at the Festival de Avándaro, often called "Mexico's Woodstock", they crossed over, singing first in English, then in Spanish. From then on they recorded primarily in Spanish, writing most of their own songs. When asked why they switched to Spanish, Lora replied that it was important for the audience to understand the messages of the songs. While Three Souls had a popular following among the younger generation while singing in English, changing attitudes toward rock pushed the band to perform in the "hoyos fonquis", where the lower classes held semi-chaotic rock shows. Singing in his original language and for a new, energetic, young, and discontented audience, Lora's songs began reflecting more of the reality of the daily lives of average Mexicans, while simultaneously allowing concertgoers to forget those same troubles. Lora gave his own identity to Mexican rock & roll, becoming its emblem.
Ratero
Three Souls in My Mind Lyrics
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Y decirle a todo mundo que chinguen a su madre
Ya que es un respetable agente de la perjudial
No le hace que a la escuela nunca haya ido
No importa que no sepa leer ni escribir
Puede robar violar estorcionar y hasta te puede matar si el quiere es un ratero con credencial de la perjudicial
Tiene el cerebro lleno de odio y de corrupcion
Trae la 45 lista para echar bala
Es un ratero con credencial de la perjudicial
Ah ratero ah ratero.
The lyrics of Three Souls in My Mind's song Ratero describe a corrupt and violent law enforcement officer who holds a badge but uses his power for his own gain, disregarding the law and morals. The song's message is a condemnation of the corrupt authorities who abuse their power and contribute to the social issues and crimes they are meant to prevent. The lyrics depict this character as an animal, lacking the human qualities of empathy and morality, and ready to kill with a loaded gun. The song's repetition of "ratero" highlights the character's identity as a thief and criminal despite his status as a police officer.
Line by Line Meaning
Puede meter su coche en sentido contrario
He can drive his car the wrong way if he wants to.
Y decirle a todo mundo que chinguen a su madre
He can tell everyone to go f*ck themselves.
Ya que es un respetable agente de la perjudial
He thinks of himself as an important member of the perjudial.
No le hace que a la escuela nunca haya ido
He doesn't care that he never went to school.
No importa que no sepa leer ni escribir
It doesn't matter that he can't read or write.
Puede robar violar estorcionar y hasta te puede matar si el quiere es un ratero con credencial de la perjudicial
He can steal, rape, extort, and even kill if he wants to, as he is a criminal with a perjudicial license.
Tiene el cerebro lleno de odio y de corrupcion
His mind is full of hate and corruption.
Trae la 45 lista para echar bala
He carries a .45 gun ready to shoot.
Parece un ser humano pero en verdad es un animal
He looks like a human, but he is really an animal.
Es un ratero con credencial de la perjudicial
He is a criminal with a perjudicial license.
Ah ratero ah ratero.
Ah, criminal, ah, criminal.
Writer(s): Alejandro Lora Serna El Tri
Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.