Chilanga Banda
Café Tacvba Lyrics


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Ya chole chango Chilango
Que chafa chamba te chutas
No checa andar de tacuche
Y chale con la charola

Tan choncho como una chinche
Mas chueco que la fayuca
Con fusca y con cachiporra
Te pasa andar de guarura

Mejor yo me hecho una chela
Y chance enchufo una chava
Chambeando de chafirete
Me sobra chupe y pachanga

Si choco saco chipote
La chota no es muy molacha
Chiveando a los que machucan
Se va a morder su talacha

De noche caigo al congal
No manches dice la changa
Al chorro del teporocho
Enchifla pasa la pacha

Pachuco cholos y chundos
Chinchinflas y malafachas
Acá los chompiras rifan
Y bailan tibiri tabara

Mejor yo me echo una chela
Y chance enchufo una chava
Chambeando de chafirete
Me sobra chupe y pachanga

Mi ñero mata la bacha
Le encanta la cucaracha
Su choya vive de chochos
De chemo churro y garnachas

Pachuco cholos y chundos
Chichinflas y malafachas
Acá los chompiras rifan
Y bailan tibiri tabara

Tranzando de arriba abajo
Ahí va la Chilanga banda




Chin chin si me la recuerdan
Carcacha y se les retacha

Overall Meaning

The song "La chilanga banda" by Café Tacvba/Cafe Tacuba is sung in Mexican slang, narrating the life and experiences of the people living in the city of Mexico, who are known as "chilangos." The song portrays the everyday struggles, hopes, and dreams of the lower-class residents of the city. The opening lines of the song "Ya chole chango Chilango, Que chafa chamba te chutas, No checa andar de tacuche, Y chale con la charola" roughly translate to "Enough already, Chilango monkey, you do a bad job, you shouldn't dress too fancy, and stop showing off your badge." This verse highlights the corruption and nepotism that is prevalent in Mexican society and mocks the roles of police officers and politicians.


The second verse talks about the indulgences of partying and living in the moment, "Mejor yo me hecho una chela, Y chance enchufo una chava, Chambeando de chafirete, Me sobra chupe y pachanga," which translates to "I'd rather have a beer or two, and maybe hook up with a girl, working as a driver, with plenty of booze and partying." This verse shows the desire to celebrate life in the present moment despite societal struggles.


The chorus, "Pachuco cholos y chundos, Chichinflas y malafachas, Acá los chompiras rifan, Y bailan tibiri tabara," roughly translates to "Pachuco, thugs, and gangsters, swindlers and low lives, it's where the rebels thrive, and they dance tibiri tabara." This verse once again highlights the rough and raw lifestyle of the people living there, celebrating their existence and defiance.


Overall, the song gives voice to the ordinary people of Mexico and raises awareness of their struggles in society. The poetic lyrics combined with the rousing music make it a classic Mexican song that still resonates with listeners across generations.


Line by Line Meaning

Ya chole chango Chilango
Stop it, dude, you Mexico City native.


Que chafa chamba te chutas
You're doing a crappy job.


No checa andar de tacuche
It doesn't make sense to dress fancy.


Y chale con la charola
And stop pretending to be a cop.


Tan choncho como una chinche
As chubby as a bed bug.


Mas chueco que la fayuca
More crooked than a street vendor selling counterfeit goods.


Con fusca y con cachiporra
With a gun and a nightstick.


Te pasa andar de guarura
You think you're tough working as a bodyguard.


Mejor yo me hecho una chela
I'd rather grab a beer.


Y chance enchufo una chava
Maybe I'll pick up a girl.


Chambeando de chafirete
Working as a taxi driver.


Me sobra chupe y pachanga
I have plenty of booze and partying.


Si choco saco chipote
If I crash, I'll just get a bump on the head.


La chota no es muy molacha
The cops around here are not very tough.


Chiveando a los que machucan
I'll make fun of those who are struggling.


Se va en morder su talacha
They'll keep working hard despite the struggle.


De noche caigo al congal
At night, I'll go to the nightclub.


No manches dice la changa
Wow, says the girl.


Al choro de teporocho
To the beat of a homeless guy's music.


Enchifla pasa la pacha
The joint is being passed around and smoked.


Pachuco cholos y chundos
Pachuco-style gangsters and thugs.


Chichinflas y malafachas
Posers and bad guys.


Acá los chompiras rifan
Here, the petty thieves rule.


Y bailan tibiri tabara
And they dance to the rhythm of Tibiri Tabara.


Mi ñero mata la bacha
My friend loves to dance Cumbia.


Le encanta la cucaracha
He loves to dance 'La Cucaracha.'


Su choya vive de chochos
His girlfriend makes a living selling beans.


De chemo churro y garnachas
With drugs, junk food, and street food galore.


Tranzando de arriba abajo
Scheming from top to bottom.


Ahí va la Chilanga banda
That's how the Mexico City gang rolls.


Chin chin si me la recuerdan
Cheers if you remember this.


Carcacha y se les retacha
An old car that keeps on going.




Lyrics © MAXIMO AGUIRRE MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC.
Written by: Juan Jaime Camacho Lopez

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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