Ex De Verdad Lyrics in English by Grupo Frontera
Cobardes translates to "cowards". It's a strong and provocative word that stands out in a song about a complicated breakup.
In the lyrics, the singer is struggling to move on from an ex who is too kind. He desperately asks his ex to "Haz las cosas que hacen los cobardes" (Do the things that cowards do) and "trátame mal" (treat me badly) so he can finally hate them and forget them. This ironic use of cobardes makes it particularly memorable and enticing.
Ever run into someone who broke your heart, only for them to flash a warm smile and completely ruin your peace? That is the exact mess Grupo Frontera confronts in "Ex De Verdad". The narrator is minding his own business in a massive city when an unexpected run-in knocks him off balance. Instead of feeling relief that things ended politely, he complains that his former flame is too nice. He literally hid his feelings away under lock and key—"Sentimientos que guardé / Con candado en un cajón" [Feelings I locked away in a drawer]—only for a casual greeting and an unthinking cheek kiss to bring all of it rushing back.
His upside-down solution to this dilemma is hilarious and desperately honest: he begs his former partner to act like a villain. He asks for a favor: "Piensa en mí, ayúdame a odiarte" [Think of me, help me hate you]. In the chorus, he lays down the demand: "Sé un ex de verdad y trátame mal" [Be a real ex and treat me badly]. The idiom "un ex de verdad" means acting the way people stereotypically expect an ex-partner to act—cold, rude, or distant. Because they are "tan perfecto que no te olvido" [so perfect that I can't forget you], their gentle smile only keeps the wound fresh. If you have ever needed an ex to be a jerk just so your brain could finally let go, this cumbia-paced plea hits right on the mark.
