Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a stark picture of a world where everyone and everything has a price, suggesting a universal commodification. The opening lines, "Todos tenemos un precio; / Todo se compra, se vende," immediately establish this cynical worldview. It posits that from the dealer to the artist, all are engaged in transactions, exchanging their 'currencies.' This idea is reinforced by the assertion that even the slave and the king share the same 'skin,' implying a fundamental equality in their susceptibility to this transactional nature, a truth that will be revealed when they are all 'in the oven.'
The song then expands this concept by listing various dichotomies, highlighting how this 'price' transcends physical differences and social standing. It moves from the obese and the thin, the giant and the dwarf, to those who try to blend in ('viste de gris') or tread carefully ('trepa de puntillas'). It even includes those who deny help to those less fortunate ('niega su brazo / Al que vive más abajo'), suggesting that even acts of omission or self-preservation are part of this system of exchange or inherent worth.
The most striking aspect of the craft here is the relentless cataloging of disparate figures, from the lord and the maiden to pirates and mercenaries, even extending to fairy tale characters like Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. This broad sweep, from the serious ('falsos revolucionarios') to the seemingly innocent, underscores the universality of the central theme. The inclusion of a 'pig disguised / As a messenger dove' ('cerdo disfrazado / De paloma mensajera') is a potent image for deception and hidden motives within this transactional landscape.
Ultimately, the lyrics' power lies in their bleak, almost deterministic view of human nature and society. By juxtaposing such a wide array of characters and archetypes, the song suggests that this inherent 'price' or susceptibility to transaction is not limited to the corrupt or the powerful, but is a fundamental aspect of existence for everyone. The repeated assertion that 'we are all the same' ('todos somos igual') in this regard is what makes the message so potent and unsettling.
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