Rurales refers to the rural police or rural guards, a historical law enforcement force in Mexico. It's a word that immediately sets a historical and regional tone for the song.
In the context of "Catarino Y Los Rurales," the word is central to the narrative, as the song tells a story involving Catarino and his confrontation with these rural authorities. It evokes a sense of conflict and a specific era in Mexican history, making it an intriguing and unique word for learners.
This song, "Catarino Y Los Rurales," seems to tell a dramatic story of a confrontation between Catarino and a group called "los rurales" (the rural police or guards). It starts with a friend dancing, but then things take a dark turn with "cuatro muertos ya más bajo catarino" [four dead already below Catarino]. It sounds like a serious fight happened!
The lyrics describe Catarino and the rurales getting into a big fight, with "a los rurales ganado" [the rural ones won]. Someone named Ceferino is shouting, calling the men "desgraciados muertos de hambre" [wretched, starving men]. It's a pretty intense scene with a lot of strong feelings and action, ending with a mention of "balas de plomo" [lead bullets]. It's a vivid story of conflict and struggle.