El Coyote
José Alfredo Jiménez / La Banda Sinaloense Lyrics
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y me fui para la sierra
El coyote era un bandido
nacido allá por mi tierra
lo conocí desde niño
fuimos juntos a la escuela
Se sabía lo que intentaba
Porque cantaba canciones
Peleando con su guitarra
y aunque perdiera ilusiones
Con sus ojos no lloraba
Aquella noche de mayo
Le gusto mi María Elena
Pero yo llegue a caballo
Ya tenia cita con ella
Cuando baje de la sierra
Me encare con el Coyote
y abrazando a Maria Elena
Le dije ya tiene nombre
Porque en la ermita sagrada
Nos caso el cura del monte
El agacho la cabeza
y se fue cobardemente
Pero como era coyote
Se devolvió de repente
El me buscaba la espalda
Pero yo le halle la frente
Coyote, coyote altivo
Que no respetaste amores
Pudiendo se buen amigo
te mataron tus traiciones
RV
The song "El Coyote" by José Alfredo Jiménez / La Banda Sinaloense tells the story of a bandit named Coyote who was born in the same region as the singer. The singer recalls their childhood together, attending school and singing songs, but also acknowledging Coyote's tendency towards lawlessness. The singer also describes a specific incident where Coyote attempts to steal the singer's love interest, Maria Elena, but ultimately fails due to the singer's intervention.
The lyrics describe the conflicting emotions of friendship and betrayal in a landscape where violence and lawlessness are common. The theme of loyalty is also highlighted, as the singer remains faithful to Maria Elena despite Coyote's attempts to steal her away. Additionally, the use of the cuatro, a traditional stringed instrument in Latin music, adds to the rootsy feel of the song and lends a sense of authenticity to the singer's story.
Line by Line Meaning
Le pinte un cuatro al coyote
I painted a bullseye on the coyote
y me fui para la sierra
and headed to the mountains
El coyote era un bandido
The coyote was a bandit
nacido allá por mi tierra
born in my land
lo conocí desde niño
I knew him since childhood
fuimos juntos a la escuela
we went to school together
A las primeras lecciones
From the very first lessons
Se sabía lo que intentaba
we knew what he was trying to do
Porque cantaba canciones
because he sang songs
Peleando con su guitarra
fighting with his guitar
y aunque perdiera ilusiones
and even if he lost hope
Con sus ojos no lloraba
he did not cry with his eyes
Aquella noche de mayo
That night in May
Le gusto mi María Elena
My Maria Elena liked him
Pero yo llegue a caballo
But I arrived on horseback
Ya tenia cita con ella
I already had a date with her
Cuando baje de la sierra
When I came down from the mountains
Me encare con el Coyote
I confronted the Coyote
y abrazando a Maria Elena
and hugging Maria Elena
Le dije ya tiene nombre
I told him she has a name now
Porque en la ermita sagrada
Because in the sacred chapel
Nos caso el cura del monte
The priest of the mountain married us
El agacho la cabeza
He lowered his head
y se fue cobardemente
and left cowardly
Pero como era coyote
But since he was a coyote
Se devolvió de repente
he came back suddenly
El me buscaba la espalda
He was looking for my back
Pero yo le halle la frente
But I found his forehead first
Coyote, coyote altivo
Coyote, proud coyote
Que no respetaste amores
You did not respect loves
Pudiendo se buen amigo
Being able to be a good friend
te mataron tus traiciones
Your betrayals killed you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIMENEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind