Ezequiel Rodriguez Lyrics in English by Los Cadetes De Linares
Pistolero translates directly to "gunman" or "shooter." It's a word that immediately evokes a sense of danger and a specific type of character often found in corridos, a genre of Mexican music that tells stories, often about outlaws and heroes.
In the context of "Ezequiel Rodriguez," the word appears in the line "Mataron a un pistolero," meaning "They killed a gunman." This word is central to the song's narrative, highlighting the violent themes and the dramatic fate of the protagonist, making it an intriguing and memorable choice for a learner.
This corrido, "Ezequiel Rodriguez," tells a dramatic story that unfolds in 1941. It kicks off with a deadly incident at a dance on a Saturday the 23rd. Ezequiel arrives at the party and makes a bold, almost taunting, statement: "soy su padre... Dios me encargó una cabeza y aquí la traigo en mi lista" [I am your father... God entrusted me with a head and I have it on my list]. He even declares, "esta noche se lo mandó a decir de una gran lista" [tonight I'm sending it to him from a big list], suggesting he's there to collect on a hit.
Things quickly turn violent. The lyrics mention Ezequiel falling, and then everyone is shouting, "tú que me iban celmo vertido" [you who were going to spill me]. It seems he was badly wounded, as they take him towards Linares, "mal herido sin saber sus familiares" [badly wounded without his family knowing]. The song ends with a somber farewell to his horse, "adiós caballo alazán ya no te vuelvo a montar" [goodbye sorrel horse, I won't ride you again], and the realization that a gunman has been killed: "mataron a un pistolero de la gente vea pareo" [they killed a gunman from the people, see the pair].
