“In the Darkness”
Album: Catarsis (Catharsis), 2013
Genre: Club, techno
Country: Spain (born), Mexico (raised)
Listen: YouTube, Amazon. Tomorrow is the winter solstice, so here is a club song that mentions being in darkness a lot. The song is about addiction to love, superficially, but also about addiction to drugs. People walk on walls in the music video, and the police come in the end. Don’t mess up your biochemistry, people. The song is energetic, though.
Category: Song translation
“Gracias” (Thank You) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics
“Thank You”, 1972
Genre: Mariachi farewell song from a genre-defining singer and national treasure of Mexico.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon.
José Alfredo Jiménez died 41 years ago on November 23, 1973.
My father is a huge fan of José Alfredo Jiménez. Once, when I was visiting home and helping him install a new music program, he started filling his playlist and found this song. He told me more about the legendary José Alfredo Jiménez, beloved and prolific singer-songwriter of Mexico. Jiménez died in 1973 of cirrhosis of the liver due to his drinking. He didn’t die sad or regretful, though. He died full of gratitude for his fans. He composed this last song, “Gracias” (Thank You), to express his love for everyone, and to let people know that he thought his life was wonderful, and that he had made peace with his upcoming death.
He picked his own epigram, arranged his own funeral, and settled his affairs. Here is an interview with José Alfredo Jiménez at the hospital. Fourteen days before his death, he left the hospital and drove to have dinner with his son, then they played dominos all night.
To this day, he is still internationally famous for his character- and story-driven lyrics. When people think of mariachi, ranchera, and corrido songs, they think of José Alfredo Jiménez.
Lyrics Translation:
¿Cómo puedo pagar
Que me quieran a mí
Por todas mis canciones?
How can I repay
That you all love me
For all my songs?
“1977” by Ana Tijoux, English translation and analysis
“1977”
Album: 1977, released 2010
Genre: Rap, hip-hop influence, autobiographical, origin story. “1977” is an autobiographical rap about Ana Tijoux’s birth, her childhood, and the start of her career. It is a catchy and poetic song. This song was also featured in an episode of Breaking Bad.
Countries: France (born), Chile (parents)
Listen: YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Announcer audio clips:
====================================
Cuando las serpientes se evolucionaron —
Más rapido —
Que en muchas creencias —
Se nota la diferencia entre una serpiente venenosa y otra que no lo es por las marcas de dejan…
When snakes evolved —
Faster —
That in many religions — [*alt. That many cultures believe –]
One can tell the difference between a poisonous snake and one that is not (poisonous) by the markings they leave behind…
====================================
“Cuidado” (Careful) by José José, La Santa Cecilia; English translation
“Careful”
Albums: Cuidado (1969); Someday New (2014)
Genre: Soulful alternative rock, ballad-like, with bass and acoustic instruments, including accordion.
Countries: United States (Los Angeles, CA); Mexico
Listen: The song by José José is directed to a lover who is doing things that will lead to a breakup. You can listen to the original version by José José (1969) or La Santa Cecilia’s cover (2014) at YouTube. I love the way lead singer Marisol “La Marisoul” Hernandez harmonizes the warnings in the lyrics until the words vibrate.
José José:
La Santa Cecilia:
Today is the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month, but Day of the Dead is coming up on November 1-2. I recommend listening to La Santa Cecilia’s lively “La Negra” (YouTube and translation). I’m also curious about the upcoming animated movie, The Book of Life premiering October 17.
Lyrics Translation (following La Santa Cecilia’s version):
Cuidado,
Mucho cuidado,
Que estás tomando por un rumbo equivocado.
Careful,
Be very careful,
Because you are going down a wrong road.
“Tu Orgullo” (Your Pride) by Carla Morrison, English translation
“Your Pride”
Album: Déjenme Llorar (Let Me Cry), 2012
Genre: Alternative, mellow, quieter song. Carla Morrison sings about her experience with a selfish lover. Her music is melancholy with a light hand. This song is both a self-reproach for letting herself be in this situation, and a protest over how she is treated. I love her voice.
Country: Mexico, USA (Arizona)
Lyrics Translation:
¿En qué momento perdí
El control de mis sentimientos
Cuando decidí
Aceptar tus secretos?
At what moment did I lose
Control over my feelings,
When I decided
To accept your secrets?
“El Coyote” (The Coyote) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics
“The Coyote”, mid-20th century
Genre: Corrido with mariachi music. This is the story of an unrequited love triangle that ended in the rival’s death.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon
Lyrics Translation:
Le pinte un cuatro al coyote, y me fui para la sierra.
El Coyote era un bandido, nacido allá por mi tierra.
Lo conocí desde niño. Fuimos juntos a la escuela.
I drew a cross over the Coyote, and I left for the sierra.
The Coyote was a bandit, born near my hometown.
I knew him since we were kids. We went to school together.
“No Pidas Perdón” (Don’t Ask Forgiveness) by Mala Rodríguez, English translation
“Don’t Ask Forgiveness”
Album: Dirty Bailarina (Dirty Ballerina), 2010
Genre: Hip hop, with a spoken word vibe.
Country: Spain
About:
I was listening to an NPR short about Mala Rodriguez and they mentioned that she calls herself “Mala” (Bad) Rodriguez because her aunt would always scold her and call her a bad kid. That’s so sad, a little cute maybe, and also a great story. Mala Rodriguez has been gaining acclaim these past few years for her distinctive rap/hip hop style and her poetic lyrics. She collaborated with Julieta Venegas on the MTV Unplugged version of Julieta’s “Eres Para Mi.”
Two lines in this song’s transcription are a little iffy, so check back for edits in a few months. The song has been on my list since the NPR short in 2011, so it makes more sense to just post it as is and wait for comments. It’s a great song. Listen to it at YouTube here.
Lyrics Translation:
Sa’ [sabe]
Lo peor ya ha pasa’o [pasado].
Dime, ¿de qué sirve seguir doblega’o [doblegado].
You know
The worst has already passed.
Tell me, what use is it to keep bowing down (in defeat)?
“El Farol” (The Lighthouse) by La Santa Cecilia, English translation
“The Lighthouse” Lyrics
Album: Noche y Citas (Night, and Dates), 2010
Genre: Ballad with accordion music in the background. This is a song about someone who fell in love hard and is melancholy about it. It sounds like unrequited love. Pobrecita.
Country: United States (Los Angeles, CA)
Unrelated, I saw the recently released Cesar Chavez movie last weekend. It was good. I worry sometimes that movies about famous civil rights people will be too serious, but this movie had many light and funny moments, too. Go watch it.
Lyrics Translation:
¿Cómo logro provocar
El rocío de una flor?
¿Cómo logro dominar
El amor?
How do I manage to provoke
The dew of a flower?
How do I manage to dominate
Love?
“Monedita” (Little Coin) by La Santa Cecilia, English translation
“Little Coin”
Album: Treinta Días (Thirty Days), 2013
Genre: Alternative, energetic, cheerful song praising humble lifestyles. This is a song about not needing money to be happy, about valuing humility, and about how living within one’s means is healthier than over-spending to impress others. Good vocals by lead singer La Marisoul and accordion play by Jose “Pepe” Carlos.
Country: USA (Los Angeles, CA)
Listen: YouTube, Amazon
Lyrics Translation:
Bonito tu trajecito, ¿cuánto das por la apariencia?
Bonito tu cochecito, ¿no te pesa en la conciencia?
Very nice, your little outfit; how much for that appearance?
Very nice, your little car; doesn’t it weigh on your conscience?
“Esta Soledad” (This Loneliness) by Carla Morrison, English translation
“This Loneliness”, 2009 single
Genre: Pop/rock, melancholy, soft and sweet voice reminiscent of Natalia Lafourcade. Song about loneliness. She needs a hug!
Country: Mexico, USA (Arizona)
Lyrics Translation:
Esta soledad me esta quemando las pestañas,
Llenándome de telarañas
Y me pone a chillar.
This solitude is burning my eyelashes, [*idiom, meaning it keeps her up at night]
Covering me with cobwebs
And it makes me bawl.
“Desvelado” (Sleepless) by Bobby Pulido, English translation
“Sleepless”
Album: Puro Tejano Gold (Pure Texan Gold), 2008
Genre: Texan ranchera with a very slight cumbia influence. Bobby Pulido is a Mexican-American singer. This song is about unrequited and unknown love. The poor guy falls in love with a voice he heard on the radio. Listen to his sleepless tale below.
Country: USA (Texas)
Lyrics Translation:
Será fe que yo encontré… una voz de ternura
Que me llena de placer, cuando la oigo hablar.
Con ella me enamoré, aunque nunca la conoci.
Sueño en su querer y en sus brazos quiero dormir.
It must be fate that I found… a tender voice
Who fills me with pleasure, when I hear it speak.
I fell in love with her, even though I never met her.
I dream about her love and I want to sleep in her arms.
“Compartir” (Share) by Carla Morrison, English translation
“Share”
Album: Mietras Tú Dormías (While You Slept), 2010
Genre: Alternative pop/rock, love ballad, soft voiced but strongly projected, understatedly emotional. Sweet melody about wanting to be close to a lover. I learned about this song from the NPR Alt.Latino music blog.
Country: Mexico, USA (Arizona)
Lyrics Translation:
Quiero compartir mi silla contigo.
Quiero ver salir el sol y despedirlo.
Quiero caminar y correr a tu ladito.
Quiero buscar y encontrarme a solas contigo.
I want to share my seat with you.
I want to see the sun rise and (then) say farewell to it.
I want to walk and run by your side.
I want to look for and find time alone with you.
Songlations 
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