Matufias (O el arte de vivir)

It's the century we live in
quite original, you see
Progress has given us
an artificial reality
Many walk by machine
'cause walking is so passé
There are food extracts
and some go without a meal

We always talk about progress
seeking perfection's direction
Modern art reigns supreme
in all its vast extension
Scheming and shenanigans
now shape society's hand
Our modern life, oh what a mess
a calamity so grand

They make wine from drugs
and coffee from beans, you see
Chocolate from peanuts
and tea from herbs, oh me
Medicines that are poison
stealing strength and health away
Liquors that make you vomit
leading you to your grave

When they serve a dish
in some fancy hotel suite
They give us cat for hare
and a cake for a treat
Olive oil is scarce
since horse oil took the throne

The tobacco we smoke
is 'habano pour reclam'
That's what they named it
when it was born in Tucumán
Milk is 'pastorized'
with water and starch, oh man
And with rat meat
they make the salami grand

Priests sell blessings
and even the missal
And the heavenly court
never raises a whistle
Embezzlement is common
in many institutions
But the thieves are never caught
and face no retribution

A candidate appears
for national deputy
And in plain sight of all
buys the people's plea
We eat barbecue with skin
and drink without restraint
Celebrating the shenanigans
of a convoluted election

Shenanigans are all the rage
and will only grow more
While the poor keep working
and paying, oh what a chore
Gentlemen, open your eyes
and don't just go to bed
We must study diligently
the great art of living instead