El Diablo Y El Federal Lyrics in English by Grupo Exterminador
Tamarindo literally means "tamarind", a type of fruit. However, in Mexican slang, it's also used to refer to a traffic cop or a police officer who primarily deals with minor infractions.
In the song, the character says, "Usted debía ser más bien tamarindo," implying that the official is only good for directing traffic or handling small matters, rather than being a serious federal agent. This clever use of slang adds a layer of insult and defiance, making it an interesting and culturally specific word.
Get ready for a wild ride with "El Diablo Y El Federal" by Grupo Exterminador! This song throws us right into a tense standoff between a military official and a man he's been trying to catch. The official is clearly fed up, saying, "desde hace tiempo que te traigo entre ceja y ceja" [I've had my eye on you for a long time]. But the other guy isn't backing down, even calling the official a "tamarindo" [a slang term for a traffic cop, implying he's not a real threat] and daring him to let the "bronca" [trouble] begin.
The sun is setting, and the tension is rising as the official orders the man out of his truck. But the man refuses, saying, "lo que me está usted ordenando yo no lo voy a aceptar" [what you are ordering me to do, I will not accept]. He knows the official has a problem with him, and he's ready to settle it. It turns out the whole conflict is over a woman! The man boldly tells the official that his girlfriend left him for him, saying, "siendo tu novia querida a mi me dio su querer" [being your beloved girlfriend, she gave me her love]. The federal officer gets angry and grabs his pistol, but the other man is quicker, pulling out his own super .38. The song ends with the federal officer kissing the man's feet, showing who really won this heated confrontation.
