Elige Tu Camino

At nine in the morning, you’re in class
Half asleep
Once again in school, the teacher asks you
Aren't you doing your homework?

Miss, I had a headache
I couldn't finish the sentences
No worries
The nerdy kid in class has his done

And when he goes up to the board
You and your friend remember
That afternoon playing FIFA on the PlayStation
With some donuts for a snack

A few goals
And some laughs
How beautiful is childhood
When as a kid, there was no rush

"Wanna play on the PlayStation?"
"I call Brazil!"
"No, you always pick that!"
During recess

You insult the studious kid with glasses
He doesn’t fight back
The little guy who never spoke up
"They’re hitting me, Miss"

"How cruel kids are
When someone messes up!"
I remember when they laughed at me
Because I didn’t have brand-name stuff

The sneakers I wore
Back in those days
"Dad, I want
The gray-striped Yumas"

"No way, son, that’s not happening
Let’s see what I can do next month"
And they laughed at me
Just kid stuff, how cruel

"Dad, buy me the Yumas
I told you there’s no money"
"Yeah, right! There’s never any money!"
Kids, you’re almost teenagers

Mandatory high school
What a surprise
You wouldn’t believe the fun with the girls
Searching their bags for pads

You’re growing up
And the cockiest one is smoking a cigarette
"Here, smoke this"
"Ugh, gross!"

"Why does he smoke?"
"It can’t be that bad
Since they smoke on TV
And your oldest brother smokes too"

"Forget it, it’s not healthy
Life is tough
And studying is necessary
The streets will betray you"

Just like the neighborhood betrays you
"Remember when we talked?"
"You’ve got six left, bro
I thought about your future"

I peeked out the window
"I could see it so clearly!"
Those punks on the street
Living a rough life all day

Proud because they steal
They trick you and lead you to drugs
I’ll help you with your studies, you can count on that
Culture is the weapon that will protect yours in the future

"How many do you have left?"
"Six"
"And you’re so calm? What do you want, to be a loser?"

"Keep it up, and you’ll regret it for life, Raúl
Even if we still carry a child inside
We’re adults now
Very few make it to college

Regrets for those who could
But didn’t study out of laziness
Most kids, resumes in hand
Hoping for that awaited call

That tells them there’s a job
That’s life, right?
You fall in love
And sometimes without meaning to, you get your girlfriend pregnant

Now you need a home, a love nest for a baby
I don’t know how we’ll manage
"Honey, don’t start crying
We’ll get through this"

I’m going to the bank with my dad to apply for a loan
Things are heating up
Let’s hope they give us the money
"One moment, director"

"You and I know each other
The bank manager was the one with glasses
Remember?
That kid who studied his ass off
While you played on the PlayStation"