China Cat
Revolutionary Rhythms: Unveiling the Soulful Message of Sancho Villa's China Cat
Lyrics
El despertar de los pueblos de América
Awakening of the peoples of America
Que vieron que se podía ser la Revolución
Realization that revolution is possible
Pick it up Humboldt, to the beat of the China Cat
Reference to Humboldt, urging to follow the China Cat beat
The music is loud and the rhythm is hot
Expressing the intensity of music and rhythm
We're happy to meet you on this plane of existence
Welcoming others to the plane of existence
All we ask of you is that you dance for an instant
Encouragement to dance briefly
Counterclockwise
Direction to move counterclockwise
We're Sancho V., yeah! We don't get political
Sancho V. not engaging in politics but open to analysis
We might get analytical on issues that inquire
Hinting at analytical discussion on societal issues
Our social persistence, an example for instance
Highlighting social persistence as an example
"Respect my existence, or expect my resistance"
Emphasizing the demand for respect or resistance
Counterclockwise
Reiteration to move counterclockwise
Spiritual yoga to awaken to chakras
Mention of spiritual yoga for chakra awakening
Meet me at the plaza and we'll jam on the congas
Invitation to gather and play congas at the plaza
Hit up all the homies and we'll sip on some kombucha
Suggesting to meet friends and enjoy kombucha
Y ahora mi gente, baila esta cumbia
Invitation to dance a specific cumbia
Vamos a bailar la cumbia del gato de la china
Dancing the "cumbia del gato de la china"
Sancho Villa no platica de política
Sancho Villa avoiding political talks
Nuestra causa son los derechos de la gente
Stating the cause as people's rights
Y raíces del estado de la mente
Referring to the roots of the state of mind
Un saludo pa' nuestros compas Los Dune Bums
Greeting to Dune Bums as respected comrades
La neta esos Dune Bums se la rifan en Norte Cali
Praising Dune Bums in Northern California
Why am I mad?
Reflection on anger towards a lack of understanding
You know, white people ask me, why am I so angry?
-And you know, I don't have an answer for them
-Because it'd be ridiculous for me to answer him
-Because he couldn't understand anyways
-Obviously because he asked me the question
-In America, democracy is hypocrisy
Criticizing American democracy and its historical injustices
A country who inherited the genocide of the Native American peoples
-A country which participated in chattel slavery
-Hoy los jóvenes de México
Declaration of Mexican youth's public awakening
Hemos encendido una luz en la vía pública del país
-Los jóvenes decimos, presente
-Our fathers didn't have the knowledge that we have
Contrast between the knowledge of current and past generations
They sat through it
-We've read the books of our Revolution
-We've listened to... quotations
-We know where we stand
-We're not gonna sit for it
Commitment to stand against injustice with sweat and blood
Our sweat and our blood
-Has fallen on this land to make other men rich
-La revolución es orden
Viewing revolution as order against a genocidal state
Porque ele está cansado deste estado genocida
-Aqui estou parado eu para dizer
-Que não mais, não mais
Anti-capitalist sentiments
A-, Anti-, Anticapitaliste
-A-, Anti-, Anticapitaliste
-El estado opresor, es un macho violador
Denouncing an oppressive state as a rapist
No justice, no peace
Chanting for justice and peace
No justice, no peace
-Pas justice, pas paix
-Pas justice, pas paix
-Pas justice, pas paix
Rejecting silence and advocating for justice
Nunca más silencio
-Nunca más silencio
-Hands up, don't shoot
Various references to police brutality and injustice
Hands up, don't shoot
-Tout le monde déteste la police
-Tout le monde déteste la police
-Y la culpa no era mía
-Ni donde estaba
-Ni como vestía
-I can't breathe
Expressing suffocation and inability to breathe
I can't breathe
-I can't breathe
-Se ve, se siente
Chanting the presence of the people
El pueblo esta presente
-Se ve, se siente
-El pueblo esta presente
-I've said it before, and I'll say it again
Declaring skepticism towards democracy and advocating for change
Democracy simply doesn't work
-Riots do not develop out of thin air
-A riot is the language of the unheard
-We feel that any society, or any government, or any system
-That is set up solely to profit a wealthy class
-While the majority of people twirl and suffer and sell their labor power
-Then that society should not stand
-It should be challenged
-And overthrown
Call to challenge and overthrow an unjust society
Comment