La Cucaracha
La cucaracha originally comes from Spain, but it was made famous during the Mexican Revolution. Many variations exist. This version is perfect for kids!
La Cucaracha
The Cockroach
Canción infantil
Traditional Song
(Spanish)
(English)
Coro:
La cucaracha, la cucaracha,
ya no puede caminar
porque no tiene,
porque le falta
las dos patitas de atrás.
Ya murió la cucaracha,
Ya la llevan a enterrar,
Entre cuatro zopilotes
Y un ratón de sacristán.
(Coro)
(Chorus)
The cockroach, the cockroach,
Can't walk anymore
Because it doesn't have,
Because it's missing
Two little hind legs.
The cockroach died at last,
They're taking her to be buried
By four vultures
and a mouse as the sexton.
(Chorus)
Notes
Sometimes just the chorus is sung.
Here are two verses specifically from the Mexican Revolution:
Con las barbas de Carranza
voy a hacer una toquilla,
pa' ponérsela al sombrero
de su padre Pancho Villa.
Una cosa me da risa:
Pancho Villa sin camisa;
ya se van los carrancistas,
porque vienen los villistas.
English Translation
With Carranza's beard
I will make a scarf
To put on the hat
of his father Pancho Villa.
One thing makes me laugh:
Pancho Villa with no shirt on,
The Carrancistas are leaving
Because the Villistas are coming.
Comments
You can find many other verses in La Cucaracha's Wikipedia entry and in a long article about the story of La cucaracha (in Spanish).
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Thanks to Monique Palomares for the illustration! Translated by Monique and Lisa.
¡Muchas gracias!
