Cálzame las alpargatas

[Tyrn]

Hi,


Cálzame las alpargatas,
Dame la boina, carga el fusil,
Cálzame las alpargatas,
Dame la boina, carga el fusil.
Que voy a matar más guiris,
Que voy a matar más guiris,
Que voy a matar más guiris,
Que flores tienen mayo y abril.
Que voy a matar más guiris,
Que flores tienen mayo y abril.

...

It does not look like the subjunctive. What is it, then? I'm talking about Que :o

[Rusty]

The conjunction que, as used in the three repeated stanzas, can be translated as 'for' (or 'because'). In front of 'flores', it is the comparative usage of the conjunction, and can be translated as 'than'.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Rusty. These two "que" are being used with different meanings, the first is explaining why he needs to be dressed and ready to fight, and the other states that the number of people he intends to kill is bigger than the number of flowers there are in spring.

[Tyrn]

Thanks! Sorry, I haven´t made myself clear; Que flores never made me wonder.

Can we say that all the other cases are just ellipses of porque? Does this kind of shorthand exist outside the context of poetry, or this particular song?

[Rusty]

This particular use of que is common. It's certainly used outside of poetry.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

It's an equivalent of "porque", not an ellipsis. It's commonly usage in every register.

- Ponte el abrigo, que hace frío.
Put on your coat, it's cold.
- Vengan a comer, que la sopa se enfría.
Come to eat, the soup is getting cold.
- Ojalá lleguen pronto, que el autobús está por irse.
I hope they'll be here soon, because the bus is about to leave.
- Prepárate tú el café, que tienes dos manos.
You can make your own coffee, you have two hands.
- ¡Necesito una ambulancia pronto, que el niño no respira!
Quick, I need an ambulance! My child is not breathing!
- Haga favor de pasar, que el doctor lo recibirá enseguida.
Please come in, the doctor will see you soon.

[Tyrn]

Soon, or right away? :)

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

When you have to wait for a doctor, it's never "right away". :p
In my experience, even being inside the doctor's cabinet, you may wait for them to see you.

I'm not sure if it's a Mexican thing, but "enseguida" is not necessarily "inmediatamente" for me; it just means things will be done as soon as possible. :blackeye:

Anyway, to avoid confusion, let's agree with the dictionaries, and use "right away" instead. :D

The doctor's opinion: No digas que los recibo "enseguida", que los pacientes van a creer que ya pueden pasar. ;)
Don't say I'll see them "right away", because the patients will think they can come in immediately.

[Tyrn]

So true... In Russian, soon can be one hell of a lot longer than right away, too.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Our countries have a lot in common. :)