Treinta Monedas

In 'Treinta Monedas,' Alberto Cortez delves into the painful experience of betrayal by someone who was once considered a friend. The song opens with a cold, emotionless recounting of words meant for a friend who turned out not to be one. This detachment signifies the healing process after a deep emotional wound, highlighting the difficulty of coming to terms with such a betrayal.

Cortez uses the metaphor of 'thirty coins' to draw a parallel with the biblical story of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This powerful imagery underscores the theme of selling one's dignity for material gain. The lyrics criticize those who, under the guise of friendship, act deceitfully and selfishly, comparing them to worms that crawl and sell their integrity for a pittance. The song suggests that such actions are timeless, as people continue to betray others for personal gain, just as Judas did.

The song also contrasts true friendship with falsehood. A real friend, according to Cortez, is someone who would never trip you up or push you down. The lyrics emphasize the difficulty of containing envy and the importance of being noble and well-born to overcome such base emotions. The song concludes with a warning about the dangers of deceitful individuals, likening them to a well-fed beast ready to attack. Cortez advises vigilance and the importance of alerting others to the presence of such dangerous elements. The recurring metaphor of life as a magical balance, where some weigh the heart and others the stomach, encapsulates the central theme of integrity versus materialism.