Text: El que come y canta loco se levanta

Translation: He who eats and sings rises a madman.

Informant’s Interpretation: The informant shared that for her family, it meant that you should not do two things at the same time, and they should focus on the food on their plate rather than the words in their mouth. 

Context: The informant’s father would say this to her and her siblings growing up to get them to stop talking more than they were eating at the table. The informant, who is Mexican American, grew up in Texas near the border in the 60s/70s. 
Analysis: The phrase itself, “El que come y canta loco se levanta”, uses exaggeration (“rises a madman”) to create a memorable and slightly humorous warning to the children hearing it. Like many proverbs, its literal meaning is less important than its applied meaning, which in this case is about maintaining focus and proper behavior at the table. The informant’s father adapts the proverb as a form of disciplinary speech, using it to reinforce expectations around mealtime etiquette. I believe it is reflective of larger trends of parents wanting their children to eat at the table rather than goof off and let their food get cold.