Corrido de Pedro J. González
By Los Madrugadores (Columbia 4984-X Part 1 and 2), 1934
This two-part corrido documents the tragic case of Los Madrugadores’ leader, Pedro J. González. Sent to prison on false rape charges in 1934, González served six years even though the alleged victim later recanted, saying she had been coerced by Los Angeles prosecutors to lie under oath.
Spanish
Señores oigan Ia historia
Que refiere este corrido
De un cantador muy famoso
De muchos muy bien querido
Aprendan bien estos versos
Que no se echen en olvido
Es Pedro J. González
De quien vamos a cantar
Era un anunciador de radio
Que se hizo más popular
Con sus bonitas canciones
Nos pudo a todos conquistar
El pueblo con simpatía lo oían en 10 y 4
Por escuchar sus programas
Se levantaban temprano
A oír a Pedro González
Con su guitarra en Ia mano
Un cierto día formaron
Luego sus madrugadores
Y por miles se contaron
Todos sus admiradores
De todas partes venían
A oír a sus cantadores
Las mujeres no faltaban
A diario a sus oficinas
Pasando dedicatorias a
Hermanas, tías y sobrinas
La mayor parte a sus novios
Y también hasta sus vecinas
Muchas guapas jovencitas
Con otro interés llegaban
Y sin comprender que a Pedro
Un perjuicio le buscaban
Pues con sus bellas caritas
Acaso todo lo tentaban
Así pasaban los días
Vacilando y vacilando
Y más popular se hacía
Cuando lo oían cantando
Las pollas no resistían
Y más se andaban rondando
Y sola suerte traidora
Un día lo fue a empañar
Cuando una chica de escuela
Pedro ofreció a acompañar
Nunca pudo imaginarse
Lo que esto le iba costar
—
González no se acordaba
De un dicho sabio y usano
“El que con muchacho duerme
Se levanta muy cansado.”
Amigos no olviden esto
Con las chiquillas cuidado
Esto fue solo el comienzo
Y otros cargos le agregaron
De diferentes muchachas
Que con Pedro se pasearon
Y esos paseos famosos
A Ia ruina lo llevaron
Y como todos lo saben
Siempre suele suceder
Muchos del árbol caído
Su leña quieren hacer
Y los enemigos salen
Cuando hay modo de morder
En los juicios que formaron
Para juzgar a González
Los jurados eran viejas
Para colma de sus males
Y aquel pobre mexicano
Dejan sus cuencas cabales
Las directoras de escuela
Parte de Ia acusación
Le presagiaban a Pedro
Muchos años de prisión
Si hombre no hubieran juzgado
Alcanzaría su perdón
El juez muy ceremonioso
pronuncia al fin su sentencia
Y a San Quintin va González
A cumplirle uno a cincuenta
Si le va bien lo esperamos
Como al mediados del que entra
Adiós estación de radio
Adiós mis escuchadores
Ahí de recuerdo se quedan
Sólo los madrugadores
Aquí para divertirnos
Todos somos cantadores
Ya con esta me despido
Al pie de verdes nogales
Aquí se acaba el corrido
De Pedro J. González
Y no lo echen en olvido
Que ya vendrá a saludarles
English
Everyone listen to the story
That this corrido tells
Of a famous singer
Well loved by many
Learn these verses well
Don’t forget them
It’s Pedro J. González
Who we’re going to sing about
He was a radio announcer
Who became quite popular
With his pretty songs
He won everyone’s heart
The people listened to him with enthusiasm
For listening to to his programs
They rose early
To hear Pedro Gonález
With his guitar in hand
And one day he formed
His group “Los Madrugadores”
And by the thousands
They counted their admirers
From everywhere they came
To hear his singers
Women were always around
Arriving daily at his offices
For their sisters, aunts, and nieces
Mostly for their boyfriends
But for their neighbors as well
Many pretty young girls
With other interests arrived
And without understanding
The mischief they were making for Pedro
Well, with their beautiful faces
Perhaps it was all intended
And that’s how the days past
Having fun and a good time
And they liked him all the more
When they heard him sing
They chicks couldn’t keep away
And more and more they would flirt
And it was only bad luck
That one day come to him
When Pedro offered
To accompany a school girl
He never imagined
What this would cost him
—
González didn’t remember
A wise and useful saying:
“He who sleeps with youngsters
Awakens very tires”
Friends don’t forget this
With the girls be careful
This was only the beginning
And other charges were added
From different girls
Who went around with Pedro
And those famous outings
Were what brought him to ruin
And like you all know
It always happens that
From a fallen tree
Many will make their kindling
And one’s enemies will come out
When they see that one is vulnerable
In the jury they formed
To judge González
The jurors were women
To make it even worse
And that poor Mexican
They threw the book at him
Women school principals
Were witnesses for the prosecution
The recommended for Pedro
Many years in prison
If they hadn’t judged a man
They would have pardoned him
The judge was very ceremonious
Pronouncing his sentence finally
And to San Quentin goes González
To do one to fifty years
If it goes well, we’ll see him
Around the middle of next year
Farewell radio station
Goodbye my listeners
As a reminder of me
There are still “Los Madrugadores”
We’re here to entertain you
For we are all singers
With this, I bid goodbye
At the foot of green walnut trees
Here ends the ballad
Of Pedro J. González
And don’t forget it
For he’ll return to greet us
More Heroes Songs
Corrido De Joaquín Murrieta Fernando, El ToroHomenaje A Rubén Salazar