Las Dos Promesas Lyrics in English by Los Plebes del Rancho de Ariel Camacho
Corridos are a traditional Mexican musical genre, often narrative ballads that tell stories of heroes, outlaws, or historical events. While it literally means "runs" or "races" (from correr - to run), in a musical context, it refers to these story-telling songs.
In this song, the lyrics mention, "Pa' corridos Los Beltranes," indicating that the Beltranes are known for their corridos. This word is interesting because it's deeply cultural and often associated with a specific subgenre known as "narco-corridos," which recount the lives and exploits of drug traffickers. Understanding corridos is key to grasping the cultural context of many regional Mexican songs.
This song, "Las Dos Promesas," tells the story of a man known as "El Barbas" who made two big promises in his life. The lyrics open dramatically, describing a violent scene where "boinas verdes y uniforme cayeron en Cuernavaca" [green berets and uniforms fell in Cuernavaca], suggesting a dangerous world he navigated. He was a "niño sabio y ayudante que creciera allá en La Palma" [wise child and helper who grew up there in La Palma], and one day he came down from the mountains with a clear mission.
His first promise was to "Ayudar a su familia y acabar con la pobreza" [Help his family and end poverty]. The song says he fulfilled both promises, and the second one was to "Morir dándoles pelea" [Die fighting them]. It seems he was a powerful figure, with "Políticos y empresarios con Arturo se codeaban" [Politicians and businessmen rubbed shoulders with Arturo], showing his influence. He lived a life of luxury, traveling from the south and by sea, with Acapulco being one of his favorite ports. It's a vivid story of a man who lived by his word, even if that word led to a life of conflict.
