La Tamalera Lyrics in English by Luis R Conriquez
Malagradecidos means 'ungrateful' and is a powerful word that perfectly encapsulates the shocking twist in this song.
In "La Tamalera," it's used to describe the son who robs his own mother, highlighting the profound betrayal and lack of appreciation for her sacrifices. This word carries significant emotional weight and is central to the song's moral message.
This song tells a whole story, like a movie in three minutes. It starts with the singer, Luis R Conriquez, driving his truck on a Sunday. He spots a woman selling tamales from a cart, a tamalera. He's thinking about stopping because he's hungry, but as he drives past, he sees something bad in his rearview mirror. A guy on a motorcycle pulls a knife on the woman and robs her. The lyrics are so direct: he sees her with her hands up, watching someone take "El dinero que con tanto sacrificio se ganaba" (The money she earned with so much sacrifice), which was meant to be "La comida de sus hijos" (The food for her children).
This is where the classic corrido action kicks in. The singer gets furious, saying "Me hirvió la sangre" (My blood boiled), and he can't just let it go. He catches the robber and holds a gun to his head. But instead of just ending it there, he decides to make the guy return the money and apologize. When he brings the thief back to the tamale seller and unmasks him, there's a huge twist. The woman starts crying because "El ratero era su hijo" (The robber was her son), who was stealing from his own mother to pay for his drug habit. The song ends with the mother's heartbreaking words, blaming herself: "Por no saber educarte / Hijo malagradecidos" (For not knowing how to raise you / Ungrateful son).
