Los Hermanos Mata

The song "Los Hermanos Mata" by Chalino Sánchez is a poignant narrative ballad, known as a 'corrido' in Mexican music tradition, which tells the tragic story of two brothers, Jorge and Pedro Mata, who kill each other over a seemingly trivial dispute. The song begins by setting the scene in the state of Michoacán, Mexico, where the sound of gunshots at dusk draws the attention of the local people. They discover the two brothers dead, without initially knowing the cause of the fatal altercation.

The conflict between the brothers is revealed to have started over a novillo, or young bull, that Jorge killed after it entered his cornfield. Pedro confronts Jorge about the act, which he considers wrong, leading to a heated argument. Jorge, impulsively and with little regard for the consequences, draws his gun and shoots Pedro. As he lies dying, Pedro questions Jorge's actions, highlighting the pain their mother will endure from their loss. Despite his calm nature, Pedro, feeling death approaching, retaliates and fatally shoots Jorge.

The song concludes with the heart-wrenching image of their mother mourning at the cemetery, inconsolable over the loss of her beloved sons. Her grief is so profound that she dies just two days later, perhaps from a broken heart. This corrido serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of impulsive violence and the deep scars it leaves on families. Chalino Sánchez, known for his raw and emotive storytelling through music, captures the essence of this tragic event with a stark realism that is characteristic of the corrido genre.