“You and the Clouds” Lyrics Style: Ranchera, Mexican oldie from the mid-20th century. This unrequited love song was featured in the Mexican movie La Fiera (1956). Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube
Translation:
Ay, ay, ay (Cariño, mío, ríndete ya)
Ay, ay, ay (My dear, hang your white flag)
Ando volando bajo, Mi amor está por lo suelos, Y tú tan alto, tan alto, Mirando mis desconsuelos, Sabiendo que soy un hombre Que está muy lejos del cielo.
I am flying low, My love is dragging the floors, And you so high, so high, Watching my grief, Knowing that I am a man Who is very far from heaven.
“The Drunk Arrived Drunk” Lyrics Translation Style: Corrido (storytelling country music style of Mexico). Song about two drunks keeping each other company and how an unfortunate and minor argument led to their deaths. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube
Translation:
Llego borracho el borracho, Pidiendo cinco tequilas, Y le dijo el cantinero, Se acabaron las bebidas. Si quieres echarte un trago, Vamonos a otra cantina.
The drunk arrived drunk, Asking for five tequilas, And the barman told him, This bar has dried up. If you want to have a drink, Let’s go to another bar.
“She Who Got Away” Album:Ella… La Que Se Fue (She… Who Got Away), 1958 Style: Ranchera. Regretful song about the one who got away. Country: Mexico Listen:YouTube
Lyrics Translation:
¡Ay, amor, amor mío, uy-ya!
Oh, love, my love, uh-ya!
Tengo dinero en el mundo, Dinero maldito que nada vale. Aunque me miren sonriendo, La pena que traigo Ni Dios la sabe.
I have money in this world, Damn money worth nothing. Though they see me smiling, The sorrow I carry Not even God knows it.
“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.
“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.
“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…
“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?
“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.
Songlations 
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