En mi ciudad

Cartel de Santa's song 'En mi ciudad' paints a stark and unflinching picture of the harsh realities faced by street children in urban environments. The lyrics delve into the cycle of poverty, neglect, and crime that many children endure, highlighting how societal failures contribute to their plight. The repetition of the lines 'En mi ciudad es muy facil de encontrar / A un niño de la calle viviendo como animal' underscores the ubiquity and normalization of this tragic situation.

The song poignantly describes the transformation of a street child into a criminal, driven by a series of abuses and neglect from society. The lyrics mention inhaling glue to forget the pain of having a mother who is a prostitute and a father in prison. This vivid imagery serves to illustrate the desperate measures these children take to cope with their harsh realities. The song criticizes society's hypocrisy, questioning the concept of humanity when such suffering is ignored or overlooked.

Cartel de Santa also addresses the systemic issues that perpetuate this cycle of despair. The song points out the lack of opportunities and the inherent bias in the justice system, where children from affluent backgrounds are rarely held accountable, while those from impoverished backgrounds are quickly criminalized. The lyrics 'Tu mayor defecto es no haber nacido rico' encapsulate this sentiment, emphasizing the unfairness and inequality that these children face from a young age.

The song ends with a haunting portrayal of the daily struggles of street children, begging for food and money, and offering to perform menial tasks for survival. This closing imagery leaves a lasting impact, urging listeners to reflect on the societal structures that allow such suffering to persist and to consider their role in addressing these injustices.