Represent your hood

While Lesley’s studying at an ashram in India, her husband Crayton is guest-posting. Please be kind to him.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHip6auoiew&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

I’m a firm believer in hometown pride, in recognizing how much where you live forms part of who you are. And there’s nothing like a good local anthem, a song that brings you home again even when you’re far away.

I grew up mostly in Alabama, and I get misty when I hear this:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5LFYjtMnu4&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

Or this (caution, bad language):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DALzCMW5hdg&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

And when I want to look back at my years in Dallas, this one gets me nice and nostalgic (also has naughty words, careful):

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR9ZeNkFu3o&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

So that’s why I was so excited to discover “Sabado Distrito Federal” a few months ago. It’s basically about the people of Mexico City out on the town during the weekend, spending what little money they have. The song was written by Chavo Flores, the “Urban Folklorist of Mexico,” a Mexico City native who was famous for his colorful descriptions of the lives of common people, according to this excellent Spanish-language bio.

Spanish lyrics and my rough attempt to translate are below. (Native speakers and Mexico experts, feel free to correct me.) Any other Mexico DF jams I should hear? Let me know.

Sábado Distrito Federal,
Sábado Distrito Federal,
Sábado Distrito Federal,
¡Ay, ay, ay!

Federal District Saturday,
Federal District Saturday,
Federal District Saturday,
Ay, ay, ay!

Desde las diez ya no hay donde parar el coche,
ni un ruletero que lo quiera a uno llevar,
llegar al centro en el Metro es un desmoche,
un hormiguero no tiene tanto animal.

Since 10 there hasn’t been a parking spot,
nor a taxi driver that wants to pick anyone up
to get downtown on the Metro is a pain
even an anthill isn’t this inhumane

Los almacenes y las tiendas son alarde
de multitudes que allí llegan a comprar,
al puro fiado porque está la cosa que arde,
al banco llegan nada más para sacar.

The warehouses and stores are a sight
of crowds that show up to shop
on nothing but credit because they burn for just this thing
they show up at the bank just to withdraw

El que nada hizo en la semana está sin lana,
va a empeñar hasta su hermana en el Monte de Piedad
hay unas colas de tres cuadras las ingratas,
y no faltan papanatas que le ganen el lugar.

He who did nothing all week is without any cash
He’ll pawn off his own sister in the Monte de Piedad
the hopeless are in queues three blocks long,
and there’s no shortage of fools who cut in line

Desde las doce se llenó la pulquería,
los albañiles acabaron de rayar,
¡Que re’ picosas enchiladas hizo Otilia,
la fritangera que allí pone su comal!

Since 12 the pulqueria has been full
the bricklayers have finished scraping
How spicy are the enchiladas by Otilia,
the street-food seller with her grill over there!

Sábado Distrito Federal,
Sábado Distrito Federal,
Sábado Distrito Federal,
¡Ay, ay, ay!

La burocracia va a las dos a la cantina,
las borrecheras siempre empiezan a las dos,
los potentados al Enjoy en su limosina,
pa’ Cuernavaca, pa’ Acapulco, ¡qué sé yo!

The bureaucrats go to the cantina at 2
drunks always begin at 2
the powerful at the Enjoy with their limousine
off to Cuernavaca, to Acapulco, who knows!

Toda la tarde pa’l café se van los vagos
otros al pókar, al billar o al dominó,
ahí el desfalco va iniciando sus estragos,
¿y la familia? ¡Muy bien, gracias, no comió!

All afternoon the bums go out for coffee
others for poker, pool or dominos
the hustler starts inflicting his damage
“And your family?” “Great, thanks, they haven’t eaten!”

Los cabaretes en las noches tienen pistas
atascadas de turistas, y de la alta sociedad,
pagan sus cuentas con un cheque de rebote
o “ahí te dejo el relojote, luego lo vendré a sacar”

The cabarets at night have dancefloors
crammed with tourists and high-society types
they pay their tabs with bad checks
or “I’ll leave my watch here and sell it later to get it back”

A Garibaldi van todos a madrugada
los que por suerte se escaparon de la Vial
ahí terminan con mariachis y canciones
ricos y pobres del Distrito Federal,

Everybody goes to Garibaldi at dawn
those fortunate enough to escape the Vial
There with mariachis and songs
the poor and rich of the Federal District end up

así es un sábado Distrito Federal,
Sábado Distrito Federal,
Sábado Distrito Federal.

That’s a Federal District Saturday
Federal District Saturday
Federal District Saturday