La Cucaracha
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"La Cucaracha" ("The Cockroach") is a traditional Spanish-language folk song. Today, the song is primarily regarded as Mexican, though it was probably originally written in Spain. The song's exact origins are unknown: some have suggested that it was composed following the expulsion of the Moors from Spain on January 2 1492, whilst others say it is about Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa's car, which frequently broke down and earned the nickname la cucaracha from Villa's troops.
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Lyrics
The lyrics consist of independent verses, often improvised. The one prototypical verse is as follows:
- La cucaracha, la cucaracha
- Ya no puede caminar
- Porque no tiene, porque le falta
- Marijuana que fumar.
- (The cockroach, the cockroach
- He can't walk anymore
- Because he doesn't have, because he lacks
- Marijuana to smoke)
During the Mexican Revolution, rebel and government forces alike invented political lyrics. This version is supposedly about President Victoriano Huerta, who was a notorious drunk and user of narcotics.
Dance
This dance is usually performed during social gatherings.
Costumes: The boy or the male wears "blousey" shirt, a low-cut vest, a jacket cut something like a long bolero, and long rather tightly fitting pants often decorated with silver buttons. On his head, he will wear a sombrero, and on his arm he carries his brightly colored zarape.
Music: The music for this dance is divided into two parts: A and B with the counting of one, two, three to a measure.
Formation: Couples are arranged informally around the room. The boy clasps his hands around his back, the girl holds her skirt gracefully at the side, or the participants may be arranged in any desired formation. Partners stand side by side, the girl is in the right of the boy.
Comic Strip
La Cucaracha is also the name of a daily comic strip by Lalo Alcaraz, which focuses on both Hispanic culture and Californian politics.
External links
- Official comic strip site (http://www.lacucaracha.com/)
- uComics La Cucaracha page (http://www.ucomics.com/lacucaracha/)