La Cucaracha
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- This article is about the song. For the comic, see La Cucaracha (comic).
"La Cucaracha" ("The Cockroach") is a traditional Spanish language folk song of the genre known as a corrido, that became popular in Mexico during the Mexican revolution. A version of its origin claims that this song references General Pancho Villa's car, which frequently broke down and earned the nickname la cucaracha from Villa's troops. A different version places its origin much earlier suggesting that it was composed following the expulsion of the Moors from Spain on January 2, 1492.
[edit] Lyrics
The lyrics consist of independent verses, often improvised. It is similar to Yankee Doodle or On Top of Old Smokey. One typical verse is as follows:
- La cucaracha, la cucaracha
- Ya no puede caminar
- Porque no tiene, porque le falta
- Marihuana que fumar.
English
- The cockroach, the cockroach
- Can't walk anymore
- Because it has not, because it lacks
- Marijuana which to smoke
--OR--
- La cucaracha, la cucaracha
- Ya no puede caminar
- Porque le falta, porque le falta
- una pata para caminar.
Many lyrics are in fact just nonsense verses and others about love:
- Cuando uno quiere a una (When a man loves a woman)
- Y esta una no lo quiere, (but she doesn't love him back)
- Es lo mismo como si un calvo (it's like a bald man)
- En calle encuetre un peine. (finding a comb in the street)
- Mi vecina de enfrente (my neighbor across the street)
- Se llamaba Doña Clara, (was called Doña Clara)
- Y si no había muerte (and if she hasn't died)
- Es probable se llamara. (That's probably still her name)
During the Mexican Revolution, rebel and government forces alike invented political lyrics. In some versions, the cockroach is President Victoriano Huerta, who was a notorious drunk and user of narcotics. They may include lines like:
- En el norte viva Villa
- En el sur viva Zapata
- Lo que quiero es venganza
- Por la muerte de Madero
(English)
- In the north long live Villa,
- In the south long live Zapata
- What I want is revenge
- For the death of Madero
In contexts where the mention of marijuana would be unsuitable, limonada que tomar ("lemonade to drink") or las patitas de atrás' ("its hind legs") are frequently substituted for the last line. This preserves both story and, in the Spanish version, meter.
[edit] Dance
This dance is usually performed during social gatherings. The boy or the male wears "blousey" shirt, a low-cut vest, a jacket cut something like a long bolero, and long rather tightly fitting pants often decorated with silver buttons. On his head, he will wear a sombrero, and on his arm he carries his brightly colored zarape.
The music for this dance is divided into two parts: A and B with the counting of one, two, three to a measure. Couples are arranged informally around the room. The boy clasps his hands around his back, the girl holds her skirt gracefully at the side, or the participants may be arranged in any desired formation. Partners stand side by side, the girl is in the right of the boy.
