Chinito Chinito
Ry Cooder Lyrics


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Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca chinito
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más
Chinito, chinito, me lava la ropa
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más
Cuando la maraca come mucho arroz

Chinito ni trabaja, a 5 why a 2
Lava la camisa, me plancha pantaloon
Cuando la maraca la lleva al canton
Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca, chinito
Chinito, chinito, no proecupes más
Vaya Chino

Chinito, chinito
Chinito finito
Chinito bonito

Ay chinito bonito, donde vas?
Donda vas chinito con su maraca
Why donde estan mis pantalones, chinito?
Pinche chinito, con mi camisa, dame la ropa

Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca, chinito
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más
Chinito, chinito, me lava la lopa
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más

Cuando la maraca come mucho arroz
Chinito ni trabaja a 5 why a 2
Lava la camisa, me plancha pantaloon
Cuando la maraca la lleva al canton

Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca chinito
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más




Chinito, chinito, me lava la ropa
Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ry Cooder's song "Chinito Chinito" reflect the experiences of Chinese immigrants in Mexico during the early 20th century. In the song, the singer addresses a Chinese man, calling him "chinito" which translates to "little Chinese man." The singer instructs the chinito to play the maracas and not worry anymore. The chinito is also responsible for laundry duties, including washing and ironing clothes. The singer also mentions "la maraca" which may refer to a specific location or a person of importance. Throughout the song, the chinito is portrayed as a subservient figure who is only valued for his labor.


The lyrics of this song highlight the ways in which Chinese immigrants faced discrimination and social exclusion in Mexico. The use of the term "chinito" serves to otherize the individual and equate him with a caricature of East Asian people. The singer also repeatedly tells the chinito not to worry, which could be interpreted as a dismissal of his struggles and concerns. By assigning low-status work like laundry duties and taking on an imperious tone, the singer reinforces the power dynamic between himself and the chinito.


Line by Line Meaning

Chinito, chinito, toca la maraca chinito
The singer is telling the Chinese person to play the maracas.


Chinito, chinito, no preocupes más
The singer is reassuring the Chinese person to not worry anymore.


Chinito, chinito, me lava la ropa
The singer is instructing the Chinese person to wash their clothes.


Cuando la maraca come mucho arroz
The artist is describing a situation where the person they are referring to eats a lot of rice.


Chinito ni trabaja, a 5 why a 2
The artist is accusing the Chinese person of not working efficiently, working only from 5 to 2.


Lava la camisa, me plancha pantaloon
The singer is requesting that the Chinese person wash their shirt and iron their pants.


Cuando la maraca la lleva al canton
The singer is again referring to a situation where the person eats a lot of rice and is then taken to the countryside.


Vaya chino
The artist is dismissing the Chinese person.


Chinito finito
The artist is describing the Chinese person with a diminutive suffix, finito, which may be derogatory.


Chinito bonito
The artist is describing the Chinese person with another diminutive suffix, bonito, which may or may not be derogatory depending on the context.


Ay chinito bonito, donde vas?
The singer is addressing the Chinese person and asking where they are going.


Donda vas chinito con su maraca
The artist is following up on their previous question, asking where the Chinese person is going with their maracas.


Why donde estan mis pantalones, chinito?
The singer is asking the Chinese person where their pants are.


Pinche chinito, con mi camisa, dame la ropa
The singer is insulting the Chinese person and demanding that they give back their clothes.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUAN LUIS FELGUEREZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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