El Corrido de Los Perez
Los Cadetes de Linares
Tragedy and Honor in the Mexican Corrido: The Story of the Pérez Brothers
The song 'El Corrido de Los Pérez', performed by Los Cadetes de Linares, tells a tragic story of honor and violence, common elements in Mexican corridos, which are folk songs often recounting feats and significant events. The lyrics describe the murder of two brothers, Isidro and Mariano Pérez, and their cousin, which took place in 1911, a period of great political instability in Mexico due to the Mexican Revolution.
The narrative portrays an ambush where the Pérez brothers and their cousin are betrayed and killed. Don Mónico de Luna is identified as the one who started the conflict, but ironically, he is the first to run when the shots are fired. The lyrics highlight the bravery of the brothers, especially Mariano, who refuses to retreat despite knowing the consequences, reinforcing the themes of honor and courage. The repetition of the verses about the 'carreras del cerro' may symbolize the struggle and desperate flight, but also the inevitability of death and loss.
The end of the song is marked by a poetic and sad image, where a dove is tasked with delivering the news of the Pérez brothers' deaths to their father, symbolizing the peace the brothers find after the tragedy and the gentle transmission of the news to ease the patriarch’s pain. Therefore, the song is a tale of loyalty, bravery, and the harsh reality of violence, characteristics that define the corrido genre.