Bienvenido a Tijuana
Manu Chao Lyrics

The song "Bienvenido a Tijuana," by French-Spanish musician Manu Chao, is a vibrant tribute to the Mexican border city that blends together a variety of languages, cultures and musical styles. The song starts with a welcoming message to Tijuana, greeting both the city itself and a loved one: "Bienvenida a Tijuana, bienvenida mi amor" ("Welcome to Tijuana, welcome my love"). The singer then briefly reflects on the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of life in Tijuana: "De noche a la mañana, bienvenida mi amor" ("From night to morning, welcome my love").

The song goes on to mention various aspects of Tijuana's character, including its infamous red-light district known as Ruta Babylon, its culinary traditions (specifically, the shrimp soup known as "sopita de camarón"), and the border crossing with the United States ("Por la panamericana, bienvenida a la aduana"). The chorus repeats the playful refrain "Calavera no llora, serenata de amor / Calavera no llora, no tiene corazón" ("The skull doesn't cry, serenade of love / The skull doesn't cry, it has no heart"), referring to the iconic Day of the Dead imagery of a skull dressed up and made beautiful.

The rest of the song alternates between celebrating the hedonistic pleasures of Tijuana nightlife ("Tequila, sexo, marihuana"), expressing frustration with the bureaucratic hurdles of crossing the border ("I wanna go to San Diego, I wanna go y no puedo" - "I wanna go to San Diego, I wanna go and I can't"), and continuing to welcome visitors to this singular, multi-faceted city. Overall, "Bienvenido a Tijuana" captures the chaotic, irreverent, and irresistible spirit of this border town, while also acknowledging some of its darker realities and complexities.