The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Un turista Americano vino a México y simplemente no pudo creer lo que aquí vió.
Sintió un trueno y la tierra firma se el abrió.
Salieron muchos esqueletos de ese hueco.
¿Porqué?
¡Te diré!
Día de los Muertos.
Cien calacas vió y el gringo se asustó.
Día de los Muertos.
El cabrón se arrugó aquí en México.
Un esqueleto apestoso e inquieto robó el burrito del blanquito y se lo tragó.
La piñata la rompieron y salieron los murcielagos.
El pobre Americano en los pantalones ensució.
¿Porqué?
¡Te diré!
Día de los Muertos.
Cien calacas vió y el gringo se asustó.
Día de los Muertos.
El cabrón se arrugó aquí en México.
Le dijimos, "No tengas miedo, chico; pasa una vez al año.
¡Cuando el infierno está lleno, los muertos suben aquí a bailar y a chupar!"
¿Porqué?
¡Te diré!
Día de los Muertos.
Cien calacas vió y el gringo se asustó.
Día de los Muertos.
El cabrón se arrugó aquí en México.
(The Tourist:)
"Day of the Dead!
Didn't you hear what I just said?!
I didn't even know it was the Day of the Dead.
I tried not to lose my head way down in Mexico."
¡Corre, carajo, 'que los muertos están en la calle!
Sintió un trueno y la tierra firma se el abrió.
Salieron muchos esqueletos de ese hueco.
¿Porqué?
¡Te diré!
Día de los Muertos.
Cien calacas vió y el gringo se asustó.
Día de los Muertos.
El cabrón se arrugó aquí en México.
Un esqueleto apestoso e inquieto robó el burrito del blanquito y se lo tragó.
La piñata la rompieron y salieron los murcielagos.
El pobre Americano en los pantalones ensució.
¿Porqué?
¡Te diré!
Día de los Muertos.
Cien calacas vió y el gringo se asustó.
Día de los Muertos.
El cabrón se arrugó aquí en México.
Le dijimos, "No tengas miedo, chico; pasa una vez al año.
¡Cuando el infierno está lleno, los muertos suben aquí a bailar y a chupar!"
¿Porqué?
¡Te diré!
Día de los Muertos.
Cien calacas vió y el gringo se asustó.
Día de los Muertos.
El cabrón se arrugó aquí en México.
(The Tourist:)
"Day of the Dead!
Didn't you hear what I just said?!
I didn't even know it was the Day of the Dead.
I tried not to lose my head way down in Mexico."
¡Corre, carajo, 'que los muertos están en la calle!
Lyrics submitted by TR_Jessie
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I wrote a translation for it:
An American tourist arrived in Mexico and simply could not believe what he saw. He felt an earthquake and the solid ground opened up. Many skeletons came out of the recesses.
Why? I will tell you! Day of the Dead. He saw a hundred skeletons in holiday garb and that white guy was terrified. Day of the Dead. That douchebag shuddered here in Mexico.
A rancid and restless skeleton stole that scrawny white guy's burrito and took it with him. They broke the piñata and bats flew out. That unlucky American soiled his pants.
Why? I will tell you! Day of the Dead. He saw a hundred skeletons in holiday garb and that white guy was terrified. Day of the Dead. That douchebag shuddered here in Mexico.
We told him, "Have no fear, man; it only happens once a year. When the fires of the underworld are high, the dead climb up here to dance and drink!"
Why? I will tell you! Day of the Dead. He saw a hundred skeletons in holiday garb and that white guy was terrified. Day of the Dead. That douchebag shuddered here in Mexico.
Tourist: "Day of the Dead! Didn't you hear what I just said?! I didn't even know it was the Day of the Dead. I tried not to lose my head way down in Mexico."
Run like Hell because the dead are in the streets!