Plebeyo translates to "commoner" or "plebeian". It's a central word in this classic song, highlighting the social class divide.
In "El Plebeyo," the protagonist, Luis Enrique, is a humble commoner who dares to love an aristocrat. The word encapsulates his struggle against societal norms and the "infamante ley" (infamous law) that dictates who he can love, making it a powerful and memorable term in the context of the song's narrative.
Get ready to feel some serious emotion with Pedro Infante's "El Plebeyo"! This song tells the story of Luis Enrique, a humble man, or "plebeyo," who is deeply in love with an aristocratic woman. The lyrics describe the city streets at night, covered in a "negro crespón" [black crepe], with artificial light creating shadows that hide "tristeza y traición" [sadness and betrayal]. This sets a dramatic scene for Luis Enrique's return to his "humilde hogar" [humble home] after work.
He's suffering under an "infamante ley" [infamous law] because he loves someone from a higher social class. But Luis Enrique isn't just going to accept it! He sings with trembling emotion, declaring that "El amor siendo humano tiene algo de divino" [Love, being human, has something divine about it] and "Amar no es un delito porque hasta Dios amó" [To love is not a crime because even God loved]. He questions why anyone would want to steal the faith from his heart, arguing that his "sangre aunque plebeya también tiñe de rojo" [blood, though plebeian, also stains red] and that their hearts are not different. He directly asks, "Señor por qué los seres no son de igual valor" [Lord, why aren't beings of equal worth?]. It's a powerful and moving protest against social inequality in love.