La cucaracha, la cucaracha que ya no puede caminar
porque no tiene, porque le falta la marihuana, marihuana que fumar
en la misa y en la feria todo el mundo ya lo sabe
los que llegan al gobierno porque se puede comprar
del partido comunista ya no queda casi nada
ahora todos van buscando como hacerse millonadas
La cucaracha, la cucaracha muchacha, la cucaracha
fue la junta de naciones pa poner sus opiniones
todos no estaban de acuerdo cuando y donde bombardear
se sientan los presidentes en la silla del gobierno
luego mandan a la guerra a la gente de su pueblo
La cucaracha, ay la cucaracha, la cucaracha
La cucaracha, la cucaracha que ya no puede caminar
porque no tiene, porque le falta la marihuana que fumar, la marihuana que fumar

guaracha, muchacha que vamos a guarachar
va una cucaracha que quiere comerciar
toca, loca, abreme la boca, buscame una coca que no quiero trabaliar
tica, rica, para zapatear, pido a Victor Jara no me vaya a doblegar
cha ma, chama, che Guevara, una petición, una cucaracha,
por culpa y omisión

La cucaracha, la cucaracha que ya no puede caminar
porque no tiene, porque le falta la marihuana que fumar, la marihuana que fumar

Todos se pelean la silla que les deja mucha plata
en el norte Pancho Villa y en el sur viva Zapata
se murio la cucaracha ya la llevan a enterrar, entre cuatro zopilotes y un raton de sacristan
La cucaracha, la cucaracha, ay la cucaracha señores

Overall Meaning

The song La Cucaracha by Lila Downs is a politically charged corrido, showcasing the dark realities in the lives of the working class, suppressed minorities, and the oppressed masses. The song talks about a cockroach that can no longer walk because it cannot find any marijuana to smoke. Marijuana here is a metaphor for the power, rights, and dignity of the working poor who are unable to find livelihood opportunities and are deprived of their basic rights. The marihuana is also a symbol of escape from the hopelessness and cruelty of their life and circumstances.

It goes on to talk about the corrupt nature of governance and its politicians, where even the communists have lost sight of their moral compass, and people rise to power based on the money they can spend. The verse highlights how the entire political class is more interested in making money and securing their position, rather than striving for the betterment of the working class. The song progresses with a stanza describing how the world's security and power are in the hands of those who are more concerned with their interests rather than the protection of human lives. The final verse talks about how those in power fight for it, and how the powerless and poor end up dying and getting buried like a cockroach.

Overall, La Cucaracha is a song loaded with political and social commentary about the corrupt nature of society, governance, and the oppression of the working poor.

Line by Line Meaning

La cucaracha, la cucaracha que ya no puede caminar porque no tiene, porque le falta la marihuana, marihuana que fumar
The cockroach can no longer walk because it lacks the marijuana it needs to smoke.

En la misa y en la feria todo el mundo ya lo sabe los que llegan al gobierno porque se puede comprar
At church and at the fair everyone knows that those who get to the government can do so by buying their way in.

Del partido comunista ya no queda casi nada ahora todos van buscando como hacerse millonadas
There's almost nothing left of the communist party, and now everyone is looking for ways to get rich.

La cucaracha, la cucaracha muchacha, la cucaracha fue la junta de naciones pa poner sus opiniones todos no estaban de acuerdo cuando y donde bombardear se sientan los presidentes en la silla del gobierno luego mandan a la guerra a la gente de su pueblo
The cockroach was a girl, the cockroach was the United Nations trying to express their opinions, but not everyone agreed on when and where to bomb. Presidents sit in the government seat and send their people to war.

La cucaracha, ay la cucaracha, la cucaracha
Oh, the cockroach, the cockroach.

La cucaracha, la cucaracha que ya no puede caminar porque no tiene, porque le falta la marihuana que fumar, la marihuana que fumar
The cockroach cannot walk because it lacks the marijuana it needs to smoke.

guaracha, muchacha que vamos a guarachar va una cucaracha que quiere comerciar toca, loca, abreme la boca, buscame una coca que no quiero trabaliar tica, rica, para zapatear, pido a Victor Jara no me vaya a doblegar cha ma, chama, che Guevara, una petición, una cucaracha, por culpa y omisión
Let's dance the guaracha, girl, because a cockroach wants to trade. Play some music, crazy, open your mouth and get me a coke, because I don't want to work. Rich beats to dance to, and I ask Victor Jara not to let me down. Cha ma, chama, Che Guevara, a request for a cockroach, due to fault and omission.

Todos se pelean la silla que les deja mucha plata en el norte Pancho Villa y en el sur viva Zapata se murio la cucaracha ya la llevan a enterrar, entre cuatro zopilotes y un raton de sacristan
Everybody fights for the chair that makes them a lot of money, in the north it's Pancho Villa and in the south it's Viva Zapata. The cockroach has died, and they're taking it to its grave, with four buzzards and a sacristan's mouse.

La cucaracha, la cucaracha, ay la cucaracha señores
Oh, the cockroach, the cockroach, gentlemen!

Contributed by Jordan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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