Por Qué No Se Van is Los Prisioneros’ cheeky anthem against cultural snobbery. With witty sarcasm, the band fires questions at fellow Chileans who idolize New York cafés, European fashion and art-house cinemas while sneering at their own people. Each time the chorus repeats “¿Por qué no se van?” (Why don’t you leave?), it exposes the hypocrisy of those who claim Chile is too small for their vanguardia yet refuse to pack their bags for good.
Beneath the upbeat melody lies a sharp social critique of the 1980s Chilean elite’s inferiority complex. The song mocks globe-trotters who brag about annual trips to Italy and Germany and dismiss local roots unless their surname sounds exotic. Los Prisioneros flip the script, urging listeners to embrace everyday names like González or Tapia, appreciate Chile’s own art and music, and stop measuring worth by foreign standards. It is a call to take pride in homegrown culture—loud, catchy and impossible to ignore.