Bandoleros Lyrics in English by Don Omar, Tego Calderón
Bandolero translates to "outlaw" or "bandit". It's the central theme of the song and a powerful word that evokes images of rebels and mavericks from old stories.
In "Bandoleros," Don Omar and Tego Calderón embrace this label. They use it to describe themselves as outsiders who are judged by society but remain proud and authentic, living by their own code. It's not just about being a criminal, but about being a misunderstood figure who stays true to their roots and their people.
In "Bandoleros", Puerto Rican reggaetón giants Don Omar and Tego Calderón team up to talk back to everyone who called them street thugs the moment they got into trouble. Instead of pretending to be innocent choirboys, they embrace the label with full defiance: "Aunque digan que soy un bandolero donde voy / Le doy gracias a Dios por hoy estar donde estoy" ("Even if they say I am a bandit wherever I go / I thank God for being where I am today"). Don Omar tells his side of the story after getting arrested. One minute he was the king of the club scene, and the next, the media plastered his face across the front pages ("Me dieron las primeras planas" / "They gave me the front pages") as an addict and an inmate. He points out how hypocritical it is for people to judge him without walking in his shoes: "Cuando crezcan donde yo crecí se críen donde me criaba" ("When you grow up where I grew up and are raised where I was raised").
Tego jumps in to take sharp swings at politicians and bad-faith gossip. He calls out crooked officials who steal public money and still get re-elected: "Soy bandolero como el mister politiquero / Que se robó todo el dinero y lo postularon de nuevo" ("I'm a bandit like the corrupt politician / Who stole all the money and they nominated him again"). If it were him or Don Omar (real name William Landrón), he jokes that authorities would lock them up and throw away the key ("la llave bota"). Along the way, Tego uses sharp island slang to brush off the noise. He dismisses gossips who "dale a la sin hueso" ("hit the bone-free part," a vivid Spanish idiom for wagging one's tongue), shouts out imprisoned rapper Tempo, and reminds critics that only "el papa upa" (God, the big boss up above) has the right to judge them. It is honest, funny, and completely unapologetic about moving forward with their "tumbao" (swagger).
