No se habla de otra cosa en el pueblo,
De ese joven que nadie sabe.
Lleva boina, acento de "patxi"
Y unas pintas poco de fiar.
Se le ha visto charlar con los moros
Con paquetes en cajapostal
Deambula solo por las calles
Sonriendo como un sacristán
Y ronda por la iglesia
Y vive sólo en casa
Y escucha por las noches
Discos de víctor jara
Un extraño, un raro, "un distinto",
Un peligro, alarma social
Mala pinta, nada bueno
Incorrecto, incordio, ilegal
El alcalde no puede aguantar,
La benemérita decide actuar
Un rutinario control de alcoholemia
Será la excusa para irlo a pillar.
Y así ha caído: ha dado 0'5
El joven habla se va a explicar
"mire soy cura y ha dado positivo
La sangre de cristo celestial"
Usted perdone,
Yo no sé como me ha podido pasar
Puede seguir, siga adelante,
Para servirle a su santidad
Un extraño, un raro, "un distinto",
Un peligro, alarma social
Mala pinta, nada bueno
Incorrecto, incordio, ilegal
Y ronda por la iglesia
Y vive sólo en casa
Y escucha por las noches
Discos de víctor jara
Un extraño, un raro, "un distinto",
Un peligro, alarma social
Mala pinta, nada bueno
Incorrecto, incordio, ilegal
The song “Un extraño” by Ixo Rai! tells the story of a young man in a small town who is viewed as an outsider and social danger. Throughout the lyrics, the town’s people describe the young man as a person of suspicion due to his unconventional appearance such as wearing a beret and clothing that is not commonly seen in the area, and his association with people that are seen as different or “moros”. They also criticize him for his solitary behavior and late night activities, such as listening to records of Victor Jara, a famous Chilean folk singer known for his revolutionary and political music.
The town is alarmed by his presence and try to find any excuse to arrest him. When the police pull him over for an alcohol sobriety checkpoint, he explains that he is a priest and that the alcohol in his blood is the “celestial blood of Christ”. This reveals that despite his appearance and behavior, he is actually a religious figure.
The song ultimately touches on the theme of prejudice and the danger of making assumptions about people based on superficial characteristics or behaviors. The young man’s appearance, lack of social interaction, and unconventional choices created a perception of him being an outsider and a threat. In reality, he is using his faith as a source of solace and guidance, and the town’s people are shown to be misguided in their assumptions.
No se habla de otra cosa en el pueblo,
Everyone in the village talks about one thing,
De ese joven que nadie sabe.
About that young man whom nobody knows.
Lleva boina, acento de "patxi"
He wears a beret and has a "patxi" accent.
Y unas pintas poco de fiar.
And a questionable appearance.
Se le ha visto charlar con los moros
He has been seen talking to the Moors.
Con paquetes en cajapostal
With packages in postal boxes.
Deambula solo por las calles
He wanders alone through the streets.
Sonriendo como un sacristán
Smiling like a sacristan.
Y ronda por la iglesia
And he goes around the church.
Y vive sólo en casa
And he lives alone at home.
Y escucha por las noches
And he listens at night.
Discos de víctor jara
To discs of Victor Jara.
Un extraño, un raro, "un distinto",
A stranger, a weirdo, a "different one",
Un peligro, alarma social
A danger, a social alarm.
Mala pinta, nada bueno
A bad vibe, nothing good.
Incorrecto, incordio, ilegal
Incorrect, annoying, illegal.
El alcalde no puede aguantar,
The mayor can't stand it,
La benemérita decide actuar
The police decide to act.
Un rutinario control de alcoholemia
A routine breathalyzer test.
Será la excusa para irlo a pillar.
Will be the excuse to catch him.
Y así ha caído: ha dado 0'5
And thus, he fell: he blew .05.
El joven habla se va a explicar
The young man speaks to explain himself.
"mire soy cura y ha dado positivo
"Look, I'm a priest, and I tested positive.
La sangre de cristo celestial"
For the celestial blood of Christ."
Usted perdone,
I beg your pardon,
Yo no sé como me ha podido pasar
I don't know how this could've happened to me.
Puede seguir, siga adelante,
You may proceed, go ahead,
Para servirle a su santidad
To serve your Holiness.
Contributed by Xavier R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
