He had no musical training—according to the singer Miguel Aceves Mejía, Jiménez didn't play an instrument and didn't even know the Spanish terms for "waltz" and "key". Nonetheless he composed more than 1000 songs. Among the most famous are "Ella", "Media Vuelta","El Rey" and many more.
In addition to his own hit recordings, many of his songs have been recorded successfully by recording artists around the Spanish-speaking world, most notably by Pedro Infante, Rocio Durcal, Javier Solís, Juan Gabriel, Joaquin Sabina and Vicente Fernandez.
He died of hepatitis and is regarded, arguably, as the best Mexican songwriter of all time.
He was the first singer who made a record with the influential tambora sinaloense band Banda el Recodo de Crúz Lizárraga.
Shortly before his death, he recorded his last song "Gracías", thanking the public for all of the affection they had shown him.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Alfredo_Jim%C3%A9nez)
Llego Borracho El Borracho
Jose Alfredo Jimenez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
pidiendo cinco tequilas;
y le dijo el cantinero
"se acabaron las bebidas,
si quieres hecharte un trago
vamonos a otra cantina".
Se fue borracho el borracho
y le dijo "que te tomas,
a ver quien se cae primero;
a aquél que doble las corbas
le va a costar su dinero".
Y borracho y cantinero
seguían pidiendo y pidiendo.
Mariachis y cancionero
los estaban divirtiendo,
pero se sentia el ambiente
muy cerquita del infierno.
Grito, de pronto, el borracho,
"¡la vida no vale nada!".
Y le dijo el cantinero,
"¡Mi vida está asegurada!,
si vienes hechando habladas
yo te contesto con balas".
Los dos sacaron pistola,
se cruzaron los balazos.
La gente corría hecha bola,
seguían sonando plomazos;
de pronto, los dos cayeron
haciendo cruz con sus brazos.
Y borracho y cantinero,
los dos, se estaban muriendo.
Mariachis y cancionero
también salieron corriendo;
y así acabaron dos vidas
por un mal entendimiento.
The song "Llegó Borracho el Borracho" by José Alfredo Jiménez tells a tragic story of two men who spiral out of control due to excessive drinking. The first verse sets the scene as the drunkard arrives and demands five tequilas, but he is informed by the bartender that there are no more drinks available. The bartender tries to redirect the man to another bar, but the drunkard insists on staying and challenges the bartender to a drinking contest. As they continue to drink, mariachis and a singer perform to entertain them, but the atmosphere becomes darker and foreboding.
The tension reaches a breaking point when the drunkard exclaims, "Life is worth nothing!" and the bartender retorts, "My life is insured, and if you come at me with words, I'll answer with bullets." The two men pull out guns, and a shootout ensues. The people in the bar flee as the violence intensifies, and both the bartender and drunkard are fatally wounded. The tragedy is emphasized as the final verse describes how the musicians and patrons of the bar also run away, leaving two men to die alone.
The song explores themes of alcoholism and machismo in Mexican culture, highlighting the dangers that excessive drinking and violent behavior can have on individuals and communities. Jiménez's use of imagery and symbolism reveals the consequences of reckless actions and the futility of violence as a means of resolving conflicts.
Line by Line Meaning
Llegó borracho el borracho,
A drunk man arrived,
pidiendo cinco tequilas;
Asking for five tequilas;
y le dijo el cantinero
And the bartender said to him,
"se acabaron las bebidas,
"We're out of drinks,
si quieres hecharte un trago
If you want to have a drink,
vamonos a otra cantina".
Let's go to another bar."
Se fue borracho el borracho
The drunk man left
del brazo del cantinero,
With the bartender's arm,
y le dijo "que te tomas,
And he said, "what are you having,
a ver quien se cae primero;
Let's see who falls first;
a aquel que doble las corbas
To the one who takes two shots in a row
le va a costar su dinero".
It will cost him his money."
Y borracho y cantinero
The drunk man and the bartender
seguían pidiendo y pidiendo.
Kept asking for more and more.
Mariachis y cancionero
Mariachis and singers
los estaban divirtiendo,
Were entertaining them,
pero se sentia el ambiente
But the atmosphere felt
muy cerquita del infierno.
Very close to hell.
Grito, de pronto, el borracho,
Suddenly, the drunk man shouted,
"¡la vida no vale nada!".
"Life is worth nothing!".
Y le dijo el cantinero,
And the bartender said to him,
"¡Mi vida está asegurada!,
"My life is insured!,
si vienes hechando habladas
If you come talking nonsense
yo te contesto con balas".
I'll answer you with bullets."
Los dos sacaron pistola,
Both of them pulled out guns,
se cruzaron los balazos.
And fired shots at each other.
La gente corría hecha bola,
People ran in a panic,
seguían sonando plomazos;
And bullets kept ringing out;
de pronto, los dos cayeron
Suddenly, both of them fell
haciendo cruz con sus brazos.
In the shape of a cross with their arms.
Y borracho y cantinero,
The drunk man and the bartender,
los dos, se estaban muriendo.
Were both dying.
Mariachis y cancionero
Mariachis and singers
también salieron corriendo;
Also ran away;
y así acabaron dos vidas
And that's how two lives ended
por un mal entendimiento.
Due to a misunderstanding.
Writer(s): Jose Alfredo Jimenez Sandoval
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.