Bajo mil llaves

The song "Bajo mil llaves" by Los Invasores de Nuevo León, a Mexican Norteo band known for their traditional polka-influenced music, tells a poignant story of unrequited love and social disparity. The lyrics express the pain of loving someone from a different world, one of wealth and fortune, while the narrator is bound to poverty. This stark contrast in their lives causes the singer great sadness, as he feels he does not belong in the world of his beloved.

The metaphor of putting one's heart under a thousand locks is a vivid image of self-preservation. The singer decides to protect his heart from further harm by locking it away, suggesting that he has experienced enough pain and is now taking steps to prevent any more emotional damage. The reference to going to the fair to buy miracles is a cynical remark on how the object of his affection views love and happiness as commodities that can be purchased, rather than feelings to be experienced genuinely.

The song also touches on themes of hope and despair, love and hate, as eternal forces that coexist. The narrator contrasts the superficiality of his beloved, who boasts of many loves, with his own genuine affection, claiming the pride of being the first to love her truly. This bittersweet assertion underlines the depth of his feelings and the authenticity of his love, despite the social divide that separates them.