Mis Dos Patrias

Mis Dos Patrias

"Seconds after this photo was taken the three men atop
the fence dropped into America.
They were quickly apprehended."
Paolo Vescia

"Mis Dos Patrias"
Los Tigres del Norte

Hablando…Raise your right hand
And repeat after me:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag,
of the United States of America,
and to the republic
for which it stands,
one nation under God,
indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all."

Congratulations, you are now all
American citizens

Para quien dice que yo soy un malinchista
Y que traiciono a mi bandera y mi naci—n.
Para que rompa con mi canto las fronteras
Les voy a abrir de par en par mi coraz—n.
Deje las tumbas de mis padres, mis abuelos
Llegue llorando a tierra de anglosaj—n.

Yo trabajaba, mis hijos iban creciendo
Todos nacieron bajo de esta gran naci—n
Y mis derechos los han ido pisoteando
Van formulando leyes de constituci—n.
Que harŽ ya viejo si me quitan mi dinero
Yo solo quiero mi seguro de pensi—n.

Pero que importa si soy nuevo ciudadano
Sigo siendo Mexicano como el pulque y el nopal
Y mis hermanos centro y sudamericanos, caribe–os o cubanos
Traen la sangre tropical
Para que respeten los derechos de mi raza
Caben dos patrias en el mismo coraz—n.

Hablando…

El juez se paro en la corte
La tarde del juramento
De mi coraz—n brotaba una
Lagrima salada que me quemaba por dentro.
Dos banderas me turbaban
Una verde, blanca y roja con
El ‡guila estampada
La otra con su azul lleno
De estrellas, con sus rayas rojas y
Blancas grabadas, la bandera de mis hijos
Que alegres me contemplaban

No me llamen traicionero
Que a mis dos patrias las quiero
En la m’a deje mis muertos
Aqu’, aqu’ mis hijos nacieron
Por defender mis derechos
No puedo ser traicionero.

The theme of this corrido is naturalization. Although the corrido isn’t written by a member of Los Tigres Del Norte, one might say that this corrido reflects a mature Tigres Del Norte. The corrido was recorded in 1997 and since most of the band members are now established and living in the United States with families, this subject could be one that has effected a band member or someone close to them. At any rate, the subject of this corrido is alive and many Mexicans have gone through the naturalization process to become American citizens for one reason or another. In Mis dos Patrias, the protagonist has just been sworn in and is now torn apart by two countries that he loves and is forced to defend his decision to become an American citizen. The protagonist pleads his case to those who might call him a traitor for adopting another nationality. But first, he has to explain what the reasons were that ultimately made him decide to become an American citizen.

Yo trabajaba, mis hijos iban creciendo
Todos nacieron bajo de esta gran naci—n
Y mis derechos los han ido pisoteando
Van formulando leyes de constituci—n
Que harŽ ya viejo si me quitan mi dinero
Yo solo quiero mi seguro de pensi—n.

In this stanza, the protagonist’s decision to become an American citizen is one out of last resort. In hopes of ending the injustices that non-citizens face, he sees no other way for him to prosper and live in peace with his family in the United States. Therefore, becoming an American citizen will at least guarantee him those benefits that citizens share such as Social Security. He goes on to assert that regardless of his new nationality, he’s still as Mexican as pulque and the nopal. He has made room in his heart for both of his beloved flags and he feels he can’t be labeled a traitor for defending his rights and demanding respect for his race.

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