Jarabe Tapatío
Carlos Periguez Lyrics
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Como nadie lo sabe bailar
Al compás de guitarras y bajos
El jarabe se va a zapatear,
Por ahí viene mi suegra enojada
Con un palo queriéndome dar
A que diantre de vieja malvada
Si quieres vamonos para tepic
Si quiere vámonos te llevaré
Para ver a esa mujer
Que sabe bailar muy bien
Si quieres bailar también
Entonces vamonos te llevaré.
Vamos a tomar atole
Todos los que van pasando
Que si el atole está bueno
La atolera esta cantando
Vamos a tomar atole
Todos los que van pasando
Que si el atole está bueno
El atole va a escasear.
Y bien que te lo decía
Y no me querías creer
Nomás sales a la calle
Y te vuelves a caer.
El palomo y la paloma
Se fueron los dos a misa
La paloma reza y reza
Y el paloma risa y risa
Da la vuelta y vámonos.
The lyrics to Carlos Periguez's song "Jarabe Tapatio" describe a traditional dance from Jalisco called "jarabe". The song explains how this dance is performed to the rhythm of guitars and bass guitars, and with tapping on the floor. The lyrics also describe the story of someone's angry mother-in-law threatening them with a stick, but they will not let the old devil take them away. Instead, they invite the listener to Tepic to watch a woman dance, and encourage them to dance along as well.
The song also includes a verse about drinking atole (a hot Mexican beverage made from masa and sweetened with sugar and cinnamon) and how it runs out quickly if it's good. The final verse talks about a couple of doves who went to church, with the female dove praying and the male dove laughing. The song ends with an invitation to go around and leave.
Overall, "Jarabe Tapatio" is a descriptive song that captures the liveliness and energy of the traditional jarabe dance, as well as some comical and lighthearted anecdotes.
Line by Line Meaning
En Jalisco se baila el jarabe
The lively and rhythmic dance called Jarabe is performed in Jalisco, a Mexican state known for its vibrant culture.
Como nadie lo sabe bailar
No one can dance Jarabe as amazingly as the people of Jalisco.
Al compás de guitarras y bajos
The uplifting sound of guitars and basses set the beat for Jarabe dancing.
El jarabe se va a zapatear,
The incredible footwork involved in Jarabe dance is captivating as the dancers step and stomp to the music.
Por ahí viene mi suegra enojada
My angry mother-in-law is approaching me from over there.
Con un palo queriéndome dar
She is wielding a stick and wants to hit me with it.
A que diantre de vieja malvada
What a devilish and malicious old lady she is!
El chamuco se la ha de llevar,
The devil will take her away for her wickedness.
Si quieres vamonos para tepic
If you want to, let's go to Tepic, another city in Mexico.
Si quiere vamonos te llevaré
I will take you with me if you want to come along.
Para ver a esa mujer
To see that woman who can dance Jarabe well.
Que sabe bailar muy bien
She is an excellent Jarabe dancer.
Si quieres bailar también
If you want to dance too,
Entonces vamonos te llevaré.
Then I will take you with me.
Vamos a tomar atole
Let's drink some atole, a traditional Mexican hot drink made with masa, water, and sweeteners.
Todos los que van pasando
Everyone who is passing by.
Que si el atole está bueno
If the atole tastes good,
La atolera esta cantando
The atole maker will sing out to advertise its deliciousness.
El atole va a escasear.
If the atole is that good, it will eventually run out.
Y bien que te lo decía
I told you so many times before,
Y no me querías creer
But you didn't want to believe me.
Nomás sales a la calle
As soon as you step outside,
Y te vuelves a caer.
You fall back into the same habits and mistakes.
El palomo y la paloma
The male and female doves,
Se fueron los dos a misa
Went to church together.
La paloma reza y reza
The female dove prays and prays,
Y el palomo risa y risa.
While the male dove laughs and laughs.
Da la vuelta y vámonos.
Let's turn around and go.
Writer(s): Carlos Periguez
Contributed by Austin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.