Tag: Mexico

“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.

Continue reading ““El Coyote” (The Coyote) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation of lyrics” →

“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?

Continue reading ““El Farol” (The Lighthouse) by La Santa Cecilia, English translation” →

“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.

Continue reading ““Esta Soledad” (This Loneliness) by Carla Morrison, English translation” →

“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.

Continue reading ““Compartir” (Share) by Carla Morrison, English translation” →

“Déjenme Llorar” (Everybody Let Me Cry) by Carla Morrison, English translation

“(Everybody) Let Me Cry”
Album: Déjenme Llorar (Everybody Let Me Cry), 2012
Genre: 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!

Continue reading ““Déjenme Llorar” (Everybody Let Me Cry) by Carla Morrison, English translation” →

“La Media Vuelta” (About-Turn) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation

“About-Turn”
Genre: 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.

Continue reading ““La Media Vuelta” (About-Turn) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation” →

“Y Todo, ¿Para Qué?” by Intocable, Natalia Lafourcade, and Pedro Reyna Cisneros, English translation

“And All For What?” Lyrics
Genre: Pop or ranchera versions, romance song
Songwriter: Pedro Reyna Cisneros
Country: Mexico
Listen @ YouTube to Intocable (ranchera) or Natalia Lafourcade (alt pop)

Continue reading ““Y Todo, ¿Para Qué?” by Intocable, Natalia Lafourcade, and Pedro Reyna Cisneros, English translation” →

“El Perro Negro” (The Black Dog) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation

“The Black Dog” Lyrics
Genre: Corrido (a storytelling style) about a loyal dog.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

About:

José Alfredo Jiménez was a famous and prolific Mexican singer-songwriter. Remember his name if you are interested in the music history of Latin America or Mexican culture. His songs created a new mythology in Mexico. He sang about characters and stories. This song is about the murder of Gilberto the Brave, who was killed in his sleep by a cowardly but powerful rival. Gilberto had a loyal dog who avenged his murder. 

Lyrics Translation:

Al otro lado del puente
De La Piedad, Michoacán,
Vivía Gilberto el Valiente,
Nacido en Apatzingán.

On the other side of the bridge
Of La Piedad, Michoacán,
Lived Gilberto the Brave,
Born in Apatzingán.

Siempre con un perro negro
Que era su noble guardián.

Always with a black dog
That was his noble guardian.

Continue reading ““El Perro Negro” (The Black Dog) by José Alfredo Jiménez, English translation” →

“Una de Dos” (One or the Other) by Mariana Seoane ft. La Sonora Dinamita, English translation

“One or the Other” Lyrics
Genre: Upbeat cumbia, romance, relationship ultimatum. She wants either commitment or a breakup.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Lyrics Translation:

Una de dos:
Te quedas al lado mio o te vas de una vez.
No soy de las que se entregan por un simple placer.
Sabes que no te miento y si no date la vuelta.
(x2)

One or the other:
You stay by my side or you leave once and for all.
I am not one of those girls who give themselves up for simple pleasure.
You know I don’t lie to you and if you don’t, turn around now.
(x2)

Continue reading ““Una de Dos” (One or the Other) by Mariana Seoane ft. La Sonora Dinamita, English translation” →

“Rayando el Sol” (Lining the Sun) by Maná, English translation lyrics

“Lining the Sun”
Album: Maná MTV Unplugged, 1999
Genre: Rock song about pining for love. It’s a common theme in Maná’s songs. He is desperate and melancholy for her love. She doesn’t pay attention to him. He can’t forget her. He claims it would be easier to reach the sun than her heart.
Country: Mexico
Listen: YouTube, Amazon

Lyrics Translation:

Rayando el sol,
Rayando por ti,
Esta pena me duele,
Me quema sin tu amor.

Lining the sun,
Lining (it) for you,
This sorrow hurts me,
It burns me without your love.

No me has llamado;
Estoy desesperado.
Son muchas lunas las que te he llorado.

You have not called me;
I am getting desperate.
I have cried you many a moon.

Continue reading ““Rayando el Sol” (Lining the Sun) by Maná, English translation lyrics” →

“Tiempo Al Viento” ([I Ask For] Time from the Wind) by Natalia Lafourcade, English translation

“(I Ask For) Time from the Wind”, lit. “Time to the Wind”
Genre: Airy, soft, nostalgic pop from Natalia Lafourcade. Dreamy reflections on sunlight and love.
Country: Mexico

Lyrics Translation:

El sol no miente.
La luz envuelve.
Mi corazón se viste… de rojo
Y revive.

The sun does not lie.
The light surrounds.
My heart dresses… in red
And revives.

Continue reading ““Tiempo Al Viento” ([I Ask For] Time from the Wind) by Natalia Lafourcade, English translation” →

“Mi Delirio” (My Delirium) by Anahí, English translation

“My Delirium”
Genre: Techno pop, seduction and lust theme, club-influence
Country: Mexico

Lyrics Translation:

Tu boca no se ha dado cuenta aún
De que mis labios son motor para arrancar.
Yo sé que tú eres el color para mí,
Matiz que pinta todo lo que llevo gris.

Your mouth has not figured it out yet
That my lips are a motor ready to go.
I know that you are the color for me,
Hue that paints everything gray I have.

Continue reading ““Mi Delirio” (My Delirium) by Anahí, English translation” →