“La Gran Señora” by Jenni Rivera, English translation of lyrics

“The Great Woman” Lyrics
Album: La Gran Señora (The Great Woman), 2009
Style: Mariachi from an older woman to a younger woman, telling her that this homewrecking attempt won’t work. She will defend her home and family.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Tenemos que hablar de mujer a mujer,
Hay que dejar unas cosas en claro,
Aunque no te guste tienes que entender,
Lo que es mío es mío y no voy a soltarlo.

We have to talk (from) woman to woman,
Let’s leave some things clear,
Even if you don’t like it, you have to understand,
What is mine is mine and I will not let it go.

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“Estos Celos” by Vicente Fernández, English translation of lyrics

“This Jealousy” Lyrics
Album: Para Siempre (Forever), 2007
Style: Orchestral ranchera, mariachi, regional Mexican from Jalisco
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Te miré,
Estabas tan bonita,
Tan sensual,
Te imaginé ajena y me hizo mal.

I saw you
You were so pretty,
So sensual,
I imagined you a stranger and it made me ill.

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“Como Quien Pierde Una Estrella” by Alejandro Fernández, English translation of lyrics

“Like How One Loses a Star” Lyrics
Album: Que Seas Muy Feliz (May You Be Very Happy), 1995
Style: Wailing prayer and mourning after the loss of a lover (likely by break up), with orchestral mariachi.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Te quiero,
Lo digo como un lamento,
Como un quejido que el viento
Se lleva por donde quiera.

I love you,
I say it like a lament,
Like a howl that the wind
Takes away wherever it goes.

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“Que Se Sepa Nuestro Amor” by Mon Laferte, Alejandro Fernández

“Let Our Love Be Known”
Album: SEIS (SIX), 2021
Style: Love song, mariachi serenade, romantic and public declaration of love.
Country: Chile, Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Desde que estoy a tu lado no sé concentrarme.
Pierdo noción de las horas, no sé a dónde voy.

Since I have been by your side, I cannot concentrate.
I lose track of time, don’t know where I’m going.

Cuando me ven mis amigos, suelen preguntarme,
Qué es lo que pasa conmigo, no saben quién soy.

When my friends see me, they often ask me,
What’s going on with me, they don’t know who I am.

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“Hermoso Cariño” by Vicente Fernández, English translation of lyrics

“Beautiful Beloved” Lyrics
Album: Personalidad (Personality), 1992
Style: Mariachi, regional Mexican, love song, romantic serenade
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Hermoso cariño,
Hermoso cariño
Que Dios me ha mandado
A ser destinado nomás para mí.

Beautiful beloved,
Beautiful beloved
That God has sent me
To be destined only for me.

Precioso regalo,
Precioso regalo
Del cielo ha llegado
Y que me ha colmado de dicha y amor.

Precious gift,
Precious gift
From heaven has arrived
And it fills me with bliss and love.

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“Para Siempre” by Vicente Fernández, English translation of lyrics

“Forever” Lyrics
Album: Para Siempre (Forever), 2007
Style: Romantic mariachi serenade to a lover after a rough relationship spot. Relationships take work, but their love is forever.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Vale más, un buen amor
Que mil costales de oro.
Vale más, un buen amor
Por eso eres mi tesoro.

It’s worth more, a good love,
Than a thousand sacks of gold.
It’s worth more, a good love,
That’s why you are my treasure.

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“El Ramalazo” by Flor Silvestre, cover by Selena Quintanilla-Perez, English translation

“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.

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.

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“Amigos Simplemente” by Mon Laferte, English translation of lyrics

“Simply Friends” Lyrics
Album: SEIS (Six), 2021
Style: Mariachi about a lovestruck person wanting to know if their crush is interested in a relationship, or if they will stay simply friends.
Countries: Chile, Mexico
Listen: YouTube

Translation:

Oye, dame una señal,
La posibilidad de hacerlo a mi modo.
Dale, no seas cohibido,
Quiero algo contigo,
Más que ser amigos.

Hey, give me a sign,
The possibility of doing things my way.
Come on, don’t be shy,
I want something with you,
More than being friends.

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“Cuatro Caminos” by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics

“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

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.

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“Que Te Vaya Bonito” by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics

“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.

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…

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