Mexicanos en Vietnam

Annotation — Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs

The song "Mexicanos en Vietnam" (Del Centro # DC 5041) by Trio Totonacas, a Spanish language ranchera track. The song title translates as "Mexicans in Vietnam". Unknown date and location - although based on the lyrics, this was probably released in Texas, USA. This song is especially interesting in that it places much focus on cultural identity and nationality - between being a Mexican-American, from Texas, as well as retaining a Mexican cultural heritage: "I am Mexican...I was born abroad...it is my pride to be Texan and Texan-Mexican". It contains patriotic sentiment, recalling previous wars, including World War Two and the Korean War: "in the war in Germany we offered our lives" and "in Korea we tested it", a common feature of patriotic songs, which sought to connect the ongoing struggle of the US to fight justified wars. The song concluded by praising the Mexican-Americans who fight for the US in Vietnam. Transcription by Eric Silberberg and Ignacia Morales Reyes. Translation by Eric Silberberg.1Sources1Mexicanos en Vietnam (Trio Totonacas)↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

Spanish: I am also Mexican / While I was born abroad / It was thus as God wanted / But I feel deep inside / On the left side of my chest / The beat of the heart / It's my pride to be Texan / And Texan-Mexicans / We don’t know how to crack / Well, the blood that we carry / It’s of good Mexicans / I am Texan, and what else is there / Ay, I shout valiantly / Long live the United States / That the traitor lives and dies / In the war in Germany / We offered our lives / Without retreat / In Korea we tested it / Now we continue together / With the War in Vietnam / Well now I have already said goodbye to all my friends / I only want to dedicate / The joy of this corrido (song form) to all the Mexicans / That one finds in Vietnam Spanish: Yo también soy Mexicano / Si nací en extranjero / Fue porque así quizó Dios / Pero siento muy adentro / Al izquierda de mi pecho / Palpitar el corazón / Es mi orgullo ser Tejano / Y los México Tejanos no nos sabemos rajar / Pues, la sangre que llevamos / Es de buenos Mexicanos / Soy Tejano y qué más da / Ay, grito por mucho valor / Que viva Estados Unidos /Que viva y muera el traidor / En la guerra de Alemania / Ofrendamos nuestras vidas / Sin echarnos pa’ atrás / En Corea lo probamos / Ahora juntos continuamos / Con la Guerra de Vietnam / Ahora si ya me despido / De toditos mis amigos / Solo quiero dedicar / La alegría de ser[sic] corrido / A todos los Mexicanos

Notes

Del Centro Records DC5041, cream label, 45 RPM, Hi Fidelity; "Mexicanos en Vietnam" (Nicolas Montalvo), 2:45. [From the record sleeve and labels]

Themes

Patriotic · WW2 · Korea · War Lineage · Mexican Pride

In collections

Mexican-American / Hispanic Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]