“Four Paths” Style: Ranchera, mariachi, forsaken love song. A song about picking your life path when you feel lost. The cuatro caminos refers to the four cardinal directions. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube, Amazon
Lyrics Translation:
Es imposible que yo te olvide. Es imposible que yo me vaya. Por donde quiera que voy te miro. Ando con otra y por ti suspiro.
It is impossible for me to forget you. It is impossible for me to leave. Because wherever I go, I see you. I am with another and I sigh for you.
“May Things Go Beautifully For You” Style: Sorrowful mariachi love song. This is a post-breakup song, with the narrator wishing his former lover nothing but good things. It sounds like he ended the relationship due to outside circumstances. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube, Amazon. The song was also used for a 1978 Mexican film, but there is little information available online.
Lyrics Translation:
Ojalá que te vaya bonito. Ojalá que se acaben tus penas, Que te digan que yo ya no existo, Y conozcas personas más buenas...
I hope that things go beautifully for you. I hope that your sorrows end, That they tell you that I no longer exist, And that you meet better people…
“In the Darkness” Album:Catarsis (Catharsis), 2013 Style: 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.
“Thank You”, 1972 Style: 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.
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?
“Careful” Albums: Cuidado (1969); Someday New (2014) Style: 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.
“Your Pride” Album: Déjenme Llorar (Let Me Cry), 2012 Style: 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?
“The Coyote”, mid-20th century Style: 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.
“The Lighthouse”Lyrics Album: Noche y Citas (Night, and Dates), 2010 Style: 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) Listen: YouTube
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?
“This Loneliness”, 2009 single Style: Pop/rock, melancholy, soft and sweet voice reminiscent of Natalia Lafourcade. Song about loneliness. She needs a hug! Country: Mexico, USA (Arizona) Listen: YouTube
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.
“Share” Album: Mietras Tú Dormías (While You Slept), 2010 Style: Alternative pop/rock, love ballad, soft voiced but strongly projected, understatedly emotional. Sweet melody about wanting to be close to a lover. Country: Mexico, USA (Arizona) Listen:YouTube. I learned about this song from the NPR Alt.Latino music blog.
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.
“(Everybody) Let Me Cry” Album: Déjenme Llorar (Everybody Let Me Cry), 2012 Style: Alternative rock, melancholy, soft but strong voice, mourning a breakup. This song won “Best Alternative Song” and its album won “Best Alternative Album” in the 2012 Latin Grammy Awards. The song was also nominated for “Song of the Year.” Country: Mexico, USA (Arizona)
Lyrics Translation:
He estado recordando los momentos que te di, Cuántos tú me diste y por qué ahora estoy aquí, Sentada en el suelo pensando que te quiero, Que te quise tanto, y que tu amor me es… ¡necesario!
I have been remembering the moments that I gave you, How many you gave me, and why I am here now, Sitting on the floor thinking that I love you, That I loved you so much, and that your love is for me… necessary!
“About-Turn” Style: Ranchera, heartbreak, wavering between denial and acceptance. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube, Amazon
Lyrics Translation:
Te vas porque yo quiero que te vayas. A la hora que yo quiera te detengo. Yo sé que mi cariño te hace falta Porque quieras o no yo soy tu dueño.
You leave because I want you to leave. At whatever time I want, I (can) stop you. I know that you need my affection, Because whether you want it or not, I am your boss.
Songlations 
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