Quiero Ser Presidente Lyrics in English by José Felipe Mejía
Transa comes from the verb transar, which can mean to make a deal, but in many Latin American contexts it suggests a dubious or corrupt arrangement. In this song’s political satire, it points to the kind of backroom bargaining associated with power and personal gain, making it a memorable and culturally rich word to learn.
José Felipe Mejía’s “Quiero Ser Presidente” is a sharp, funny portrait of a politician who wants power for all the wrong reasons. The repeated line “Yo quiero ser presidente, quiero tener el poder” [I want to be president, I want to have power] is blunt rather than noble. He describes supporters arriving at his meetings with “su torta y su fruta” [their sandwich and their fruit], then promises progress while planning to reward friends with government jobs and remove people he considers too comfortable. The word “torta” means a filled bread roll in Mexico, so the campaign scene feels very ordinary and recognizable.
The promises become more openly corrupt as the song continues. He says his family will remain in a mansion, enjoying luxury and money, while public projects carry the country’s name and trips are paid for with citizens’ taxes. The line “para el bien de mi bolsillo” [for the good of my pocket] gives away his real goal, and “el que no transa no avanza” [the person who does not make shady deals does not get ahead] presents corruption as a political rule. Even the song’s shifts between wanting to be president and saying he does not want the job make the performance feel mocking: this candidate is chasing office because it benefits him, his friends, and his family.
