Lalo Guerrero

Carta de un soldado

Colonial 537 · Monterey Park, California

Artist
Lalo Guerrero
Title
Carta de un soldado
Release
El corrido de Delano / Carta de un soldado
Label
Colonial # 537
Format
7" · Single
Language
Spanish
Country
Monterey Park, California, USA
Genre
Hispanic Music · Ranchera

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

Another one by Lalo Guerrero, "Carta de un soldado" ("Letter From a Soldier") (Colonial # 537), also released in Monterey Park, California, USA. As mentioned above, Lalo Guerrero was born 24 December 1916, in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and died 17 March 2005, in Rancho Mirage, California, USA. He has the nickname "The Father of Chicano Music". This song looks at both the soldier's perspective, writing a letter to his mother: "I'm writing you this letter from a trench, and I'm sorry if I get mud on the paper", as well as the home front perspective, with the mother receiving a killed in action (K.I.A.) notification: "the mother cried with grief, and her hands trembled with emotion". It contained some patriotic sentiment: "her son died for his country", and "take care of all the sons... fighting for liberty". Transcription and translation by Joel Garcia

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Born 24 December 1916, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Died 17 March 2005, Rancho Mirage, California, USA

In collections

Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs