Cuervo Ingenuo

Javier Krahe's song 'Cuervo Ingenuo' is a sharp critique of political hypocrisy and broken promises. The lyrics are a direct address to a political leader who, after winning an election with grand promises, fails to deliver on them once in power. The song's title, which translates to 'Naive Crow,' suggests a sense of betrayal felt by the electorate, who were deceived by the leader's false assurances.

The song opens with the leader's promise to withdraw from NATO, a pledge that helped him win the election. However, once in power, the leader reverses his stance, claiming that the alliance is now trustworthy and beneficial. This flip-flop is emblematic of the broader theme of political duplicity. Krahe uses the metaphor of the 'white man speaking with a forked tongue' to underscore the leader's deceitfulness, a phrase that evokes the broken treaties and promises made to Native Americans by European settlers.

Krahe continues to highlight the leader's failures in addressing unemployment and his radical actions in other areas, such as economic restructuring, which lead to social tension. The leader's inaction in reforming police practices, despite frequent reports of mistreatment, further exemplifies his selective radicalism. The song also criticizes the leader's military spending, questioning the priorities of a party that claims to be socialist and worker-oriented but acts in ways that align more closely with American interests.

The repeated refrain, 'Cuervo ingenuo no fumar la pipa de la paz con tú, ¡Por Manitú!' reinforces the theme of betrayal and the refusal to trust the leader again. The invocation of 'Manitú,' a spirit in Native American belief systems, adds a layer of cultural critique, suggesting that the leader's actions are not just politically but morally and ethically wrong.