Miguel Aceves Mejía, or "the King of the falsetto" as he was popularly known, was born in Ciudad Juárez in the state of Chihuahua. He became a popular Mexican film star during its golden age and was widely regarded for his interpretations of various Mexican musical folkloric genres, particularly the ranchera.
Originally part of a traveling theater company, Aceves Mejía began recording for the first time in 1938 with the trio Los Porteños. At the beginning of his career he interpreted mainly boleros, tangos, and Afro-Cuban rhythms. During his career he recorded more than 1000 songs on 90 discs and starred in over 60 films.
Among his greatest hits are La Barca de Guaymas, El Pastor, La del Rebozo Blanco, Se Me Hizo Fácil, Yo Tenía un Chorro de Voz, Vaya con Dios, La Malagueña Salerosa, El Jinete, El Crucifijo de Piedra and Cuatro Caminos. He was noted for composing such songs as El Pescado Nadador and O, Gran Dios, even though his forté was primarily as a singer in his own right.
In 1945 he began dedicating himself solely to singing and, following the deaths of Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete, ventured into the world of cinema.
In 1959 he appeared in Amor se dice cantando.
He died just a few days short of his 91st birthday on November 6, 2006 in Mexico City. As is tradition in Mexico, his body lay in state in the Palacio de las Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) in Mexico City. This honour is reserved for only the greatest Mexican singers, writers, composers, sculptors and painters.
El Siete Leguas
Miguel Aceves Mejía Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que Villa más estimaba
Cuando oía pitar los trenes
Se paraba y relinchaba
Siete leguas el caballo
Que Villa más estimaba
En la estación de Irapuato
Allí combatió formal
La brigada bracamontes
En la estación de Irapuato
Cantaban los horizontes
Ay, Chihuahua
Cuánto apache, cuánto indio sin gualache
Oye tú, Francisco Villa
Qué dice tu corazón
Ya no te acuerdas valiente
Que atacaste a paredón
Ya no te acuerdas valiente
Que tomastes a Torreón
Como a las tres de la tarde
Silbó la locomotora
Arriba, arriba muchachos
Pongan la ametralladora
Como a las tres de la tarde
Silbó la locomotora
Adiós torres de Chihuahua
Adiós torres de Cantera
Ya vino Francisco Villa
A quitarles lo Pantera
Ya vino Francisco Villa
A devolver la Frontera
The song "El Siete Leguas" is a tribute to Francisco Villa's favored horse, who was known for stopping and neighing whenever he heard the trains whistle. The first two verses of the song describe the horse and its close relationship with Villa, who apparently held him in high esteem. The third verse brings up the memories of Villa's battles and victories, particularly the battle at Irapuato station. The lyrics evoke the sounds of the battle and the cries of warriors, particularly the famous line, "Ay Chihuahua/cuánto apache, cuánto indio sin gualache" which implies there were many fighters and they were fierce.
The last two verses of the song narrate Francisco Villa's attack of an enemy in Chihuahua, and his subsequent victory. The locomotive whistle signals the beginning of the attack and Villa's men put their machine gun in place as they prepared to take the enemy. The song ends with Villa's triumph, as the chorus declares, "Adiós torres de Chihuahua/Adiós torres de Cantera/Ya vino Francisco Villa/A quitarles lo Pantera/Ya vino Francisco Villa/A devolver la Frontera." The lines express Villa's desire to take down his opponents and restore his beloved border territories.
Line by Line Meaning
Siete leguas el caballo
The horse can travel long distances quickly
Que Villa más estimaba
This was Pancho Villa's most beloved horse
Cuando oía pitar los trenes
Whenever he heard trains whistle in the distance
Se paraba y relinchaba
The horse would stop and neigh
En la estación de Irapuato
At the station in Irapuato
Cantaban los horizontes
The beautiful scenery created a beautiful melody
Allí combatió formal
Pancho Villa fought there officially
La brigada bracamontes
Against the Bracamontes Brigade
Ay, Chihuahua
Oh, Chihuahua
Cuánto apache, cuánto indio sin gualache
So many Apache and indigenous people without shoes
Oye tú, Francisco Villa
Listen up, Francisco Villa
Qué dice tu corazón
What does your heart say?
Ya no te acuerdas valiente
Do you no longer remember, brave one
Que atacaste a paredón
When you made your attack on the wall
Que tomastes a Torreón
When you captured Torreón
Como a las tres de la tarde
Around three in the afternoon
Silbó la locomotora
The locomotive whistled
Arriba, arriba muchachos
Up, up boys
Pongan la ametralladora
Set up the machine gun
Adiós torres de Chihuahua
Goodbye towers of Chihuahua
Adiós torres de Cantera
Goodbye towers of Cantera
Ya vino Francisco Villa
Francisco Villa has arrived
A quitarles lo Pantera
To take what is theirs like a panther
A devolver la Frontera
To give back the frontier
Writer(s): Graciela Olmos Villarreal
Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jorgepadilla8109
La mejor cancion de don Miguel me transporta al pasado y me emociono mucho muchas gracias
@arturovacchetta3290
¡Como no quererle a México, si me crié escuchando canciones como esta en mi Villa Rica natal!. Un abrazo y todo el cariño desde el Paraguay!
@wjleal9244
Siete Leguas . . . a música que mais me emociona ! Escuto-a há muitos anos , sou apaixonado por ela e Francisco Doroteu Alano , o Pancho Villa , o maior herói mexicano , um de meus ídolos .
Viva o México ! ! ! Viva o imortal Pancho Villa ! ! !
@isabelposse9446
Es lo más grande que ubo sobre la tierra soy de Uruguay no morirá nunca
@MariaLuvsElvis
Que hermoso es estar escuchando esta noche de julio 2022 "El Siete Leguas" en la voz especialisima de mi paisano Miguel Aceves Mejia. Yo me crie en un rancho en las afueras de El Paso, Texas, donde vivi por bastante tiempo. Curiosamente no fue sino hasta hace poco que me entere que Miguel Aceves Mejia fue nacido en El Paso, Texas, pero su padre registro su nacimiento en Cd, Juarez, Chihuahua, ciudad donde 5 de mis hermanos y yo nacimos. Ya sea que este especial interprete haya nacido en El Paso, Tx o en la vecina ciudad fronteriza de Cd, Juarez, Chih., yo lo reclamo como paisano mio.
@franordaz1378
Excelente música. Lo máximo. Mi admiración y respeto por la música ranchera
@Labadiuol
Desde Brasil: en los años 80 mi padre tenia un LP (long play) y yo escuchaba muchas veces esta música. Pero era un poco distinta la canción. Decia: Ai chihuahua, cuanto apache, cuanto indio, sin pantalón o gualache. Esta versión de Yutube ha cambiado un poco.
@benjalobe2182
Lo mejor de lo mejor👌
@guillermoagreda3088
GRACIAS
@luzbel1martinez126
Linda música
.. grandes artistas mexicooo ... saludes desde el salvador