Oh look, another one of those interminable lyrics posts!

[franzeska]

I've got some questions about Los de atrás vienen conmigo by Calle 13. These are mostly about place names and culture rather than straight translation requests.

Comments

[ti_ana]

I love that song. One of my favorites from that album. Here are my takes on it:

1) I think he means he was breastfed and not given formula. It's probably a metaphor for saying he's more genuine. That's what I think when I hear it, anyway.

2) I think it's a generic metaphor. He's just mentioning what we call "viandas" in Puerto Rico that are native to the area.

3) I think it should be "El puertorro because "puertorro" is a common abbreviation in PR for "puertorriqueño." I've heard the expression, but I have to admit that, even as a Puerto Rican, I have no idea what it means. My guess is that he means you have to do what you have to do.

4) Those are all names of well-known (and with bad reps) housing projects in the San Juan area of PR, I believe.

5) No idea. My assumption has always been that he's referencing gangs that belong to those neighborhoods. The word barrio in PR often tends to refer to low-income neighborhoods (especially those in the metro area, maybe not as much in the rest of the island) that may also have gangs

[franzeska]

Oh, man, thank you! You have no idea how hard it was to find anyone to actually answer questions about this song. I keep finding people with yet more incorrect transcriptions. ("En Puerto Rosinola"? Seriously, guys?) It's one of my favorites too.

[chrryblssmninja]

just glad to see Calle 13 lyrics on here. I'm not superfluent but what I can figure out of the lyrics is fun and playful with language