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.
Rock Tras las Rejas
Three Souls in My Mind Lyrics
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Hubo un concierto en la prisión
A la cárcel de Santa Martha se presentó a tocar three souls
Todos los reos se conectaron
Y aquello fue un reventon
Se deben al rock y no oye el cantinero
Abuso de autoridad jonny be good
Los internos se divirtieron y se olvidaron de su blues
Rocanrol tras las rejas, rocanrol en prision (Santa Marta)
Rocanrol tras las rejas, rocanrol en prision, (Santa Marta)
En la carcel de santa marta nadie se olvida de three souls.
The lyrics of Three Souls in My Mind's song Rock Tras las Rejas speak about a concert that took place in the Santa Martha prison. The band Three Souls performed for the inmates, who all enjoyed the music and forgot about their worries for a while. The lyrics mention the abuse of authority, which is represented in the song "Jonny Be Good," indicating that music has the power to bring people together despite social and legal barriers.
The lyrics also suggest that the inmates owe their freedom and joy to rock 'n' roll, which is a genre of music that knows no bounds. The reference to "blues" implies that the inmates' lives are filled with sadness, but they momentarily forgot about them during the concert. Overall, Rock Tras las Rejas is a celebration of the power of music to unite people and offer a temporary escape from reality.
Line by Line Meaning
El otro día hubo un concierto
Recently, there was a concert
Hubo un concierto en la prisión
The concert took place in the prison
A la cárcel de Santa Martha se presentó a tocar three souls
Three Souls in My Mind performed at the Santa Martha prison
Todos los reos se conectaron
All the prisoners felt a connection
Y aquello fue un reventon
The event was a wild party
Se deben al rock y no oye el cantinero
They owe it to rock and the bartender can't ignore it
Abuso de autoridad jonny be good
Abuse of authority, inspired by the song 'Johnny B. Goode'
Los internos se divirtieron y se olvidaron de su blues
The inmates had fun and forgot about their troubles
Ya varias veces hemos ido y algun dia iremos otra vez
We have been there several times and we will go again someday
Rocanrol tras las rejas, rocanrol en prision (Santa Marta)
Rock and roll behind bars, rock and roll in prison (Santa Marta)
Rocanrol tras las rejas, rocanrol en prision, (Santa Marta)
Rock and roll behind bars, rock and roll in prison, (Santa Marta)
En la carcel de santa marta nadie se olvida de three souls.
Nobody forgets Three Souls in My Mind at the Santa Marta prison.
Writer(s): Alejandro Lora Serna El Tri
Contributed by Ella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.