Camarón literally means "shrimp". It's an unexpected word in a song about a car and a tragic accident, making it quite memorable and intriguing.
In this song, the word camarón is used as slang to refer to a specific type of car, likely a Chevrolet Camaro, which is a popular muscle car. The lyrics mention "Aquel hermoso camarón" (That beautiful shrimp) and later, "Cuando lo pienso Camaro y yo le miraba Las alas" (When I think of the Camaro and I saw its wings). This double meaning, using a common animal name for a powerful car, adds a layer of cultural slang that is interesting for learners to discover.
This song, "Le Compre La Muerte A Mi Hijo" by Los Dos Carnales, is a really sad story about a father's regret and loss. It starts with a dedication to Beto Quintanilla and La Raza del Norte, especially from Reynosa. The father describes buying his son a beautiful, fully equipped truck, a "camarón" [shrimp], that only needed to talk. He remembers the envy it caused in the neighborhood when his son drove it.
But then the mood shifts dramatically. The father realizes, with heartbreaking clarity, "nunca pensé que yo a mi hijo la muerte le había comprado" [I never thought I had bought death for my son]. His son was only 15, and the father recalls seeing "alas" [wings] on the truck when his son drove it, wishing his "pollo no tenía plumas y yo quería que volara" [chicken didn't have feathers and I wanted him to fly]. The joy turns to tragedy when he receives news of a fatal accident. He blames himself for giving his son everything, saying, "sin alas yo pa que se las ponía" [without wings, why did I put them on him?]. He reflects that things have their time, and by wanting to give his son everything, he might have failed him, suggesting that instead of giving them everything, parents should prepare their children.