Thought perhaps non-Spanish speaking fans of this album might want to under… Read Full Bio ↴Thought perhaps non-Spanish speaking fans of this album might want to understand the lyrics. Here is my translation:
What irony, if you know,
That there were two Chavez brothers.
Pugilists born in mere
Chavez Ravine.
Carlos and Fabela Chavez, from La Loma
and Palo Verde, said, "If you fight clean,
What an irony, if you know,
About two brothers named Chavez
Boxers who were born right there in
Chavez Ravine
Carlos and Fabela Chavez, from La Loma
And Palo Verde, Said, "If you fight clean,
Chavez Ravine always win, never lose."
In the Olympic Auditorium,
fit well for people.
never hiceron enemies,
They fought honoradamente.
But they could not win
the lawsuit by Chavez Ravine.
They broke up with lies to the end.
They fought in the mud until they lost everything.
In the history of boxing, you have won or you have lost.
But in Chavez Ravine, everything was forgotten.
Nobody knows the secrets that were hidden.
They will pay for it with God, that ball of bandits.

Corrido de Boxeo
Ry Cooder Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Que ironia, si lo sabes,
Que habian dos hermanos Chavez.
Pugilistas que nacieron en mero
Chavez Ravine.
Carlos y Fabela Chavez, de La Loma
Y Palo Verde, decian, "Si peleas limpio,
What an irony, if you know,
About two brothers named Chavez.

Boxers who were born right there in
Chavez Ravine.
Carlos and Fabela Chavez, from La Loma
And Palo Verde, said, "If you fight clean,
Chavez Ravine 3

More...
Siempre ganas, nunca pierdes."
En el Auditorio Olimpic,
Quedaban bien por la gente.
Nunca hiceron enemigos,
Peleaban honoradamente.
Mas no pudieron ganar
El pleito de Chavez Ravine.
Se deshicieron encima con mentiras hasta al fin.
Se batieron en el lodo hasta que perdieron todo.
En la historia del boxeo, has ganado o has perdido.
Pero en Chavez Ravine, todo quedo en el olvido.

Nadie sabe los secretos que quedaron escondidos.
Se la pagaran con Dios, esa bola de bandidos.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ry Cooder's song "Corrido de Boxeo" tell a story of two brothers, Carlos and Fabela Chavez, who were boxers born in Chavez Ravine. The irony of the story is highlighted in the first verse, where it is mentioned that the brothers, who fought clean, could not win the fight in Chavez Ravine, a place where they were born. In the second verse, it is revealed that the brothers were well-liked by the people and never made enemies, always boxing honorably. However, they were defeated in the fight for Chavez Ravine, deceived with lies until the end. The third verse talks about the loss of everything by the brothers in the fight, both materially and reputation-wise. The ending lines suggest that the secrets of the story might never be known, and the culprits will face justice in the eyes of God.

Line by Line Meaning

Que ironia, si lo sabes,
It's ironic, if you know,

Que habian dos hermanos Chavez.
That there were two brothers named Chavez.

Pugilistas que nacieron en mero
Boxers who were born right there in

Chavez Ravine.
Chavez Ravine.

Carlos y Fabela Chavez, de La Loma
Carlos and Fabela Chavez from La Loma

Y Palo Verde, decian, "Si peleas limpio,
And Palo Verde said, "If you fight clean,

Siempre ganas, nunca pierdes."
You always win, never lose."

En el Auditorio Olimpic,
At the Olympic Auditorium,

Quedaban bien por la gente.
They were well-liked by the people.

Nunca hiceron enemigos,
They never made enemies,

Peleaban honoradamente.
They fought honorably.