4 lenguas

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

Ángel Rojano Jiménez, known as Pancho Pantera, started his career as an actor, doing commercials for a well-known brand of powdered chocolate, Pancho Pantera - hence the nickname. He starred in over 20 films.1 He was a member of the Mexican group Conjunto Río Bravo. This record was released in the USA. No further information is known about this artist, and he potentially could be from Mexico, rather than Mexican-American. The song "El 4 Lenguas" ("The 4 Language") (RCA Victor # 76-2386), composed by Melesio Chaidez Díaz, is related to the Vietnam War, narrated from the soldier's perspective: "I went to Vietnam, all the way overseas". It is in the Polka genre. It contained the interesting introduction: "I’m Mexican, from the other side" - is this a reference to being from a border town? He continues, "I was a soldier of this land and over there" - perhaps, a soldier of the US, over there in Vietnam. The narrator goes off to war, but observes "the cowards were scared to die", so he yelled at them in the four languages he spoke, saying "I'm Mexican, now let yourselves come over" - said as an insult to cowards. Transcription and translation by Joel Garcia.Sources1Andina: Un 8 de octubre nacieron las estrellas de Hollywood Sigourney Weaver y Matt Damon↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: I speak well in every language / I'm Mexican, I come from the other side / I was a soldier of this land and of over there / And here my countrymen are sharpshooters in the canyons, I'd like to put them to the test / I went to Vietnam, all the way overseas / And the cowards were afraid to die / I yelled at them in four languages: I'm Mexican, so come and get it / Me speaking English, me speaking Spanish, me speaking in French, I'm speaking in Chinese / That's four languages this guy speaks... / And I'm not Chinese, nor am I American / I'm Mexican, I was born free / And I really like the fair-haired girls / And I lie to them with the plain truth / I'm going to tell you what English is good for / With a case, man, that I'll never forget / A gringa told me "I love you" and I French-kissed her on the lips / Me speaking English, me speaking Spanish, me speaking in French, I'm speaking in Chinese / That's four languages this guy speaks __________ Spanish: Bien speaking en todos Los Idiomas / Soy Mexicano vengo del otro lado / Yo fui soldado de esta tierra y de alla / Y aqi los paisas son rematones en los cañones los quisiera calar / Yo fui at Vietnam hasta overseas / Y los cobardes tenian miedo morir / Yo les gritaba en cuatro lenguas, soy mexicano y dejense venir / Me speaking English, me speaking Spanish, me speaking in French, I'm speaking in Chinese / Son quatro lenguas que habla este... / Y no soy chino ni soy Americano / Soy Mexicano, naci con libertad / Y las…

Notes

RCA Victor 76-2386, 45 RPM, "(Grabado en México)", made in U.S.A. by Radio Corporation of America, Pending USKM-5326; "El 4 Lenguas - Polka" (Melo Díaz), 2:15; credited to Pancho Pantera y Conjunto Jesus de Hijar. Issued in an RCA Victor company sleeve with the Nipper "His Master's Voice" logo. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Died 8 October 2005.

Themes

Soldier's Perspective · Mexican Pride

In collections

Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · Polka songs · US Combat Perspective Songs [War Years]