El Árbol de Mayo is the voice of a weather-worn patriarch who, despite living surrounded by luxury, feels the weight of every empty chair at his table. While sipping and reminiscing, he ticks through the painful absences in his family: a grandson gone, a son and brother behind bars, other children drifting far from his orbit. His heartache is wrapped in gratitude for the few loyal friends still at his side, and he admits that money can buy almost everything except another heartbeat for the loved ones he has lost.
The song’s title image – a sturdy tree that “keeps standing” – captures the singer’s resolve. At more than sixty years old, he refuses to break, promising his compadres that he is not stepping away yet. Power, regret, loyalty, mourning and resilience intertwine, turning this corrido into both a confession and a rallying cry: the roots run deep, the branches still shelter those who remain, and the old tree will not fall until its purpose is fulfilled.
José Ariel Camacho Barraza (July 8, 1992 – February 25, 2015) was a beloved Mexican musician and singer-songwriter best known as the lead voice and guitarist of Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho. Born in Guamúchil, Sinaloa, Camacho captivated audiences with his expressive twelve-string guitar playing and heartfelt vocals, earning nicknames like "La Tuyía" and "El Rey de Corazones." His innovative sound blended traditional regional Mexican genres such as corridos and narcocorridos with modern sensibilities.
Camacho's rapid rise to fame included hits like "Hablemos," "Te Metiste," and "El Karma," which climbed the Latin charts and solidified his place in contemporary Mexican music. Tragically, his promising career was cut short when he died in a car accident at age 22. Despite his early passing, Ariel Camacho remains a profound influence on the regional Mexican scene and continues to inspire new generations of artists.