Satire, as many have pointed out, is often lost on the majority of Filipinos.
This partially explains why Facebook user Lolito Go drew flak from people who don’t quite know what to make of his cheerful-sounding ditty, “Papatayin Kita.” In English, “I Will Kill You.”
Go explained in his FB post: “This goes to President Rody Duterte and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and their bloody campaign against illegal drugs which has already taken almost a thousand lives in just little over one month as of this posting.”
He added, “This song is not to be taken as a campaign jingle supporting (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s) war on drugs and extrajudicial killings. The song, although it seems sunny and happy, strongly denounces murder and the culture that makes murder an acceptable norm these days.”
We’re posting the lyrics of Go’s song and our rough translation below:
“PAPATAYIN KITA”
words and music by Lolito Go
I
Papatayin kita / Kahit na sino ka
Basta ba tulak ka / Papatayin kita
Kahit sumuko ka / Anong alam nila
Ika’y markado / Na papatayin kita
REFRAIN
Pag kinatok kita / ‘Wag nang magkaila
Kung di ka kakanta / Papatayin kita
Kung trip mong manlaban / Tiyak mapapaslang
Kahit nadamay lang / Wala akong pakialam
II
Marami pa akong / Stock ng karatula
Gusto mo bang isa? / Papatayin kita
O ang saya ‘diba / Parang pelikula
Ako ang bida at / Papatayin kita
REFRAIN
Pag kinatok kita / ‘Wag nang magkaila
Kung di ka kakanta / Papatayin kita
Dahas na kung dahas / Walang batas-batas
Tanginang human rights / Sa war on drugs the price is life
Kaya’t magbago na
Magzumba-zumba ta
Magsimba-simba ka
Kung gusto mong mabuhay pa
“I WILL KILL YOU”
words and music by Lolito Go
I
I will kill you / No matter who you are
If you’re a pusher / I will kill you
Even if you surrender / What do they know
You are marked / I will kill you
REFRAIN
If I knock on your door / Don’t try to cover up
If you don’t sing / I will kill you
If you want to fight back / You’ll be killed for sure
Even if you’re a bystander / I don’t care
II
I have a lot / Of cardboard in stock
Do you want one? / I will kill you
Isn’t it great? / Just like a movie
I’m the hero and / I will kill you
REFRAIN
If I knock on your door / Don’t try to cover up
If you don’t sing / I will kill you
Let’s use violence / There are no laws
Fuck human rights / In the war on drugs the price is life
So you must change
Let’s just take up Zumba
Just go to church
If you still want to live
