“Tell Them Not To Fear Me” Album:Dile Que Por Mi No Tema / Bajo La Luna Vinyl, 1972; Boleros, 1993 Style: Bolero, which is both a dance style and a story-telling lyrics style. Song telling an ex that you have a new (better) sweetheart and that your ex should tell their own new lover not to worry about you, because you’ve moved on. Also an example of a gender neutral Spanish song. Country: Cuba Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Dile a tu nuevo querer Que no hay nada que temer Porque hace ya mucho tiempo Que te borré de mi mente Y no me acuerdo de ti…
Tell your new beloved That there is nothing to fear Because it’s been a long time now Since I erased you from my mind And I don’t remember you…
“I Woke Up in Your Arms” Style: Ranchera, love song about waking up in your lover’s arms and spending the full day and night in bed together. One of Jose Alfredo Jimenez’s 100 Mexican classic songs. Country: Mexico Listen: YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Amanecí otra vez Entre tus brazos Y desperté llorando De alegría.
I woke up again In your arms And I woke up crying From joy.
“El Gavilán Pollero” (The Chicken Hawk) sung by Pedro Infante Style: Ranchera about a man who lost his favorite hen and is in the bargaining stage of grief. This is a popular Mexican oldie and the title of a film from the golden age of Mexican cinema [YouTube link to the full film]. Country: Mexico Listen: YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
[Knocking sounds]
¡Cantinero! ¡Cantinero!
Barman! Barman!
Infeliz gavilán, Se llevo la polla más linda que tenia en mi gallinero.
Wretched chicken hawk, He took the most lovely hen I had in my chickenhouse.
“Democracy” Album:SEIS (Six), 2021 Style: Cumbia about politics in Latin America, lamenting poor conditions and atrocities done in the name of democracy. Country: Chile, Mexico Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
Tú no tienes la culpa de que la plata a nadie le alcanza. Tú no tienes la culpa de la violencia y de la matanza. Así el mundo nos recibió: con muchas balas, poca esperanza. Quiero que todo sea mejor, que se equilibre esa balanza.
It’s not your fault that money doesn’t stretch out far enough for anyone. It’s not your fault, the violence and the killings. This is how the world received us: with many bullets, little hope. I want everything to be better, for that scale to balance.
“The Fall”Lyrics, lit. “The Impact” or “The Blast of Wind” Style: Mariachi Countries: United States (Texas), Mexico Listen: This song is full of life advice and metaphors. It speaks about the fall of a great tree. It was so large, and it fell so hard. The song is covered on Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s anthology album, disc 2. Listen to Flor Silvestre’s original version on YouTube.
Lyrics Translation:
Deja amistades pa’ cuando caigas, Te den la mano. Brinde una copa pa’ cuando llores, Te den un trago.
Keep friendships so that when you fall, They give you a hand. Raise your glass (to others’ happiness) so that when you cry, They give you a drink.
“I Let Go of Your Rein” Style: Corrido, ranchera, sometimes a mariachi. This popular Mexican song is an epic “you’ll miss me, but go” breakup song. Country: Mexico Listen: YouTube (José Alfredo Jiménez, Maná, Lupillo Rivera, Vicente Fernandez, and many more)
Lyrics Translation:
Se me acabó la fuerza De mi mano izquierda. Voy a dejarte el mundo Para ti solita.
I lost the strength On my left hand. I am going to leave you the world For your very own.
“The White Horse” Style: Corrido about a white horse, but it’s really about a road trip all over Mexico on a car (romanticized as a horse). Country: Mexico Listen: YouTube, Amazon
About:
This song is about a road trip [es] that José Alfredo Jiménez took from Guadalajara (in central Mexico) to Baja California (just south of the United States southwest) on a white 1957 Chrysler. It is a good song to teach Mexican geography, since he mentions the places he passes on his journey.
Lyrics Translation:
Este es el corrido del caballo blanco, Que en un día domingo feliz arrancara. * Iba con la mira de llegar al norte, * Habiendo salido de Guadalajara.
This is the narrative of the white horse, That on a Sunday, happily took off. * He went with the goal of reaching the north, * Having left from Guadalajara.
“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.
“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?
Songlations 
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