La Cucaracha
Helmut Lotti Lyrics


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Una cosa me da risa
Pancho Villa sin camisa
Ya se van los carrancistas
Porque vienen los villistas.

La Cucaracha, la Cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar
Porque no tiene, porque le falta
Marihuana que fumar.

Para sarapes, Saltillo
Chihuahua para soldados




Para mujeres, Jalisco
Para amar, toditos lados

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Helmut Lotti's "La Cucaracha" talk about the Mexican Revolution which took place between 1910 and 1920. The song portrays the chaos and disorder of the time, with the mention of Pancho Villa, a Mexican revolutionary general, and the Carrancistas, the constitutionalist army loyal to former president Venustiano Carranza, who were fighting for control of the country. The line "Pancho Villa sin camisa" refers to the guerrilla tactics used by Villa and his army, who rarely wore proper uniforms during their battles.


The chorus of the song, "La Cucaracha, la Cucaracha ya no puede caminar, porque no tiene, porque le falta marihuana que fumar" translates to "The cockroach, the cockroach can't walk anymore, because it doesn't have (what it needs), because it's missing marijuana to smoke." This is a humorous reference to the widespread use of marijuana among both the revolutionaries and the general population at the time. The last stanza of the song mentions various Mexican states, each associated with a different aspect of Mexican culture, such as Jalisco for women and the idea of love.


Overall, "La Cucaracha" presents a satirical image of the Mexican Revolution through its humorous lyrics and references to cultural stereotypes of the time.


Line by Line Meaning

Una cosa me da risa
Something makes me laugh


Pancho Villa sin camisa
Pancho Villa without a shirt


Ya se van los carrancistas
The Carrancistas are already leaving


Porque vienen los villistas.
Because the Villistas are coming.


La Cucaracha, la Cucaracha
The cockroach, the cockroach


Ya no puede caminar
Cannot walk anymore


Porque no tiene, porque le falta
Because it doesn't have, because it lacks


Marihuana que fumar.
Marijuana to smoke.


Para sarapes, Saltillo
For sarapes, Saltillo


Chihuahua para soldados
Chihuahua for soldiers


Para mujeres, Jalisco
For women, Jalisco


Para amar, toditos lados
For love, all over the place.




Contributed by Asher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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