The Mexican corrido

Fleur du Printemps has also answered our appeal to our Readers to send us the songs telling about their history, presenting us this beautiful bouquet of the corridos of the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). The photos commenting the texts are by the photographer of the Revolution Agustín Victor Casasola (1874-1938).

The corridos are the Mexican offsprings of the Spanish romance. They express feelings and ideas, triumphs and defeats, pains and happiness which are so overflowing to constitute a collective importance for the Mexican folk. The corrido is the language of the people. At one time it played the role of the press: the news used to spread all over the countryside in songs, rather than in newspapers which were no important sources of information in an overwhelmingly illiterate country. Only the most important events or the great personalities deserved to be sung about in a corrido, but they sometimes also immortalize scenes of the everyday life of the internal parts of the country.


The corrido is characterized by spontaneity, and by a simple language and melody. It uses few poetic tools, but it is very concise, and gives more importance to the rhythm than to the form. Its classical form is the quatrain 8a 8b 8a 8b which also permits more than one poems to be sung with the same melody. This is why they can also easily be modified and actualized, so that one corrido lives on in several versions.


According to the man of letters, politician, speaker and poet of native Mexican blood Andrés Henestrosa, the circumstances favorable to the birth of the corrido were provided by the formation of national feeling and identity. It was born together with the Independence, but it reached its climax during the Revolution, with the collective rejection of “Porfirism” that took its name from the Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz (1876-1911) and of forced Europization (Díaz was one of the great promoters of French culture among the Mexican high society). This was the longest and most supported phase of national rebirth, the one with the deepest roots in Mexican reality, and therefore the most popular one.


The Revolution originated in the conflict between the new parties, as the old ones ceased to exist with the arrival of Porfirio Díaz to the power. The resistance against his reelection was organized by Francisco I. Madero who also launched the armed rebellion. Later the movement was divided in factions, as in fact it was never united but by the hatred against the common enemy, that is Díaz. The factions were formed according to the most influential generals and the regions where they camped. The most important ones were Venustiano Carranza in the North (it was him to prepare the Constitution of 1917, still in force in Mexico), Emiliano Zapata in Central Mexico, Pancho Villa, Pascual Orozco and Álvaro Obregón in the North (Obregón was to become the co-founder of the Partido Nacional Revolucionario, predecessor of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional that maintained the power from the foundation of the PNR in 1929 until 2000).


However, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata were the personalities embraced by the greatest popular devotion, and their names have been used to give credit to certain movements, like the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) or the Frente Popular Francisco Villa (FPFV).

I have chosen some of the most famous corridos, and some of those that I like the most, hoping that you would also love them. Enjoy.


La Rielera. I learned this corrido while singing in the school choir, and I have always loved it. The rielera – the railwaywoman – worked for the railways, in this case for the central railways connecting the city of México with the North. Lerdo, Gómez and Torreón are cities in the northern states (Durango and Coahuila) which at that time were important mining regions, especially Torreón. This song is from the period of the Revolution splitting into factions, when the Carrancistas (of Venustiano Carranza) fought against the Villistas (of Francisco Villa).

I’m a railwaywoman and I love Juan he’s my life and I’m his delight; when they say the train is leaving, adiós, my railwaywoman, your Juan is leaving. When the engine-driver says that the train is leaving for San Juan, I already bring his basket with which he’s going to refine. I have a pair of pistols with an ivory head to defend myself, if necessary, against those of the railway. I have a pair of pistols with a precise aiming with one shot for my lover and another for my enemy. Adiós, boys of Lerdo, of Gómez and of Torreón the maintainers are already leaving the turn is over forever. I have a pair of horses for the Revolution one is called Robin and the other Sparrow. They say the Carrancistas are like scorpion when the Villistas are coming they run away with lifted tail. I know that as you see me in uniform you believe I come to ask of you although I come to you, brown girl, to look for your favors. As you see me in boots you believe me to be a soldier although I’m only a poor railwayman at the Central Railways.

Yo soy rielera y tengo mi Juan, él es mi vida yo soy su querer; cuando me dicen que ya se va el tren, adiós mi rielera ya se va tu Juan. Cuando dice el conductor, va salir para San Juan, le llevo su canastita con la que va a refinar. Tengo mi par de pistolas, con sus cachas de marfil, para darme de balazos con los del ferrocarril. Tengo mi par de pistolas con su parque muy cabal, una para mi querida y otra para mi rival. Adiós muchachos de Lerdo, de Gómez y de Torreón, ya se van los garroteros, ya se acabo la función. Tengo mi par de caballos para la Revolución, uno se llama el Jilguero y otro de llama el Gorrión. Dicen que los carrancistas parecen un alacrán, cuando ven a los villistas alzan la cola y se van. So porque me ves de traje crees que te voy a pedir, solo quiero prieta chula tus favores conseguir. Si porque me ves con botas piensas que soy melitar, [militar] soy un pobre rielerito del Ferrocarril Central.

La Adelita. This is one of the most famous Mexican corridos. The Revolution was not only the case of the soldiers. The troops were also followed by women and children who took care of the solders and feeded them, healed the ill and the wounded, etc. [This is a scene with the famous actresses María Félix and Dolores del Río, in a film from the golden age of the Mexican cinema, that presented the women following the soldiers in the time of the war.]

On the top of the rocky mountain there was an army camped and a courageous women followed them fallen in love with the sergeant. Everyone appreciated Adelita who loved the sergeant as she was courageous and beautiful even the colonel estimated her. And they heard that it was told by him who loved her so much: If Adelita wanted to be mine if Adelita wanted to be my wife I’d buy her a silk garment to take her to dance in the caserm. And if Adelita went with another I’d follow her over land and sea with a battleship on the sea and with a military train on land. And as the cruel battle was over and the army retired to the camp the sobbing of a woman was heard her crying filling the whole camp. The sergeant heared it, and fearing to loose his adored forever concealing his pain in himself he sang like this to his lover: And they heard that it was told by him who was dying so much: And if I died in the battle and my body was buried there Adelita, I ask you for God to come there and cry over me.

En lo alto de una abrupta serranía, acampado se encontraba un regimiento, y una joven que valiente lo seguía, locamente enamorada del sargento. Popular entre la tropa era Adelita, las mujer que el sargento idolatraba, que además de ser valiente era bonita, que hasta el mismo coronel la respetaba. Y se oía, que decía, aquel que tanto la quería: Y si Adelita quisiera ser mi esposa, si Adelita fuera mi mujer, le compraría un vestido de seda para llevarle a bailar al cuartel. Y si Adelita se fuera con otro, la seguiría por tierra y por mar, si por mar en un buque de guerra, si por tierra en un tren militar. Y después que termino la cruel batalla y la tropa regresó a su campamento, se oye la voz de una mujer que sollozaba, su plegaria se escucho en el campamento. Al oírla el sargento temeroso, de perder para siempre a su adorada, ocultando su dolor bajo el esbozo a su amada le cantó de esta manera: Y se oía, que decía, aquel que tanto se moría: Y si acaso yo muero en campaña, y mi cadáver lo van a sepultar, Adelita por Dios te lo ruego, que con tus ojos me vayas a llorar.

El Mayor de los Dorados. The dorados (“gilded ones”) were the “elit forces” of Pancho Villa, the most famous general together with Emiliano Zapata. Villa fought in the North. Parral is in Chihuahua, a border state near to the United States. This corrido is also from the splitting of the Revolution in factions. Álvaro Obregón was a very important and very competent general, later President of Mexico.

I was the soldier of Francisco Villa of the world famous general who, even if sitting on a simple chair did not envy that of the President. Now I live on the seashore remembering those immortal times Ay… Ay… Now I live on the seashore remembering Parral and Villa. I was one of the dorados made a Major by chance and made crippled by the war while defending the country and honor. I remember of times past how we fought against the invader today I recall the times past the dorados of whom I was a Major. My horse, ridden so many times by me died under me in Jiménez a bullet intended to me run across his body. While dying, he neighed of pain and gave his life for the country Ay… Ay… while dying, he neighed of pain how much I cried when he died! Pancho Villa, I keep you in my memories and in my heart even if sometimes we were beaten by the troops of Álvaro Obregón. I was always your loyal soldier until the end of the Revolution Ay… Ay… I was always your loyal soldier fighting always in front of the cannons.

Fui soldado de Francisco Villa de aquel hombre de fama mundial, que aunque estuvo sentado en la silla no envidiaba la presidencial. Ahora vivo allá por la orilla recordando aquel tiempo inmortal. Ay… Ay… Ahora vivo allá por la orilla recordando a Villa allá por Parral. Yo fui uno de aquellos Dorados que por suerte llegó a ser Mayor, por la lucha quedamos lisiados defendiendo la patria y honor. Hoy recuerdo los tiempos pasados que peleamos contra el invasor, hoy recuerdo los tiempos pasados de aquellos Dorados que yo fui Mayor. Mi caballo que tanto montara en Jiménez la muerte encontró, una bala que a mí me tocaba a su cuerpo se le atravesó. Al morir de dolor relinchaba por la patria la vida entregó Ay… Ay… Al morir de dolor relinchaba cómo le llorara cuando se murió. Pancho Villa te llevo grabado en mi mente y en mi corazón y aunque a veces me vi derrotado por las fuerzas de Álvaro Obregón. Siempre anduve como fiel soldado hasta el fin de la revolución Ay… Ay… Siempre anduve como fiel soldado que siempre ha luchado al pié del cañón.

Caballo Prieto Azabache. (My dark horse) Ah, this is one of my favorite corridos. It speaks of a soldier crying for his horse who had saved his life when the troops of Villa were going to execute him. The Mauser were the firearms used in the Revolution. They were first imported from Germany to Mexico by Porfirio Díaz who also founded a local factory to produce them.

My dark horse, how could I forget you, I own you my life when the troops loyal to Pancho Villa were going to execute me It was a cloudy night and I was surprised by an outpost and having disarmed me they sentenced me to death. As I was already in the death cell Villa was saying to his aide-de-camp put this horse for me aside as it is educated and obedient. I know I cannot escape but I kept thinking about it and you, my dark horse were thinking exactly like me. I remember being asked of what is my last desire before the death and I told, I wanted to die sitting on my dark horse. And when I was put on you and were going to execute me you only expected my command and jumped over the wall. With three Mauser bullets in your body you galloped, my dark one, saving my life what you’ve done for me, my horse, my friend, I will never forget you. I was unable to save yours and I can only cry of grief therefore, my dark horse I will not forget you ever.

Caballo prieto azabache, como olvidarte te debo la vida. Cuando iban a fusilarme, las fuerzas leales de Pancho Villa. Fue aquella noche nublada, una avanzada me sorprendió. Y…después de… de…sar…marme, fui condenado al paredón. Ya cuando estuve en capilla, le dijo Villa a su asistente, me apartas ese caballo por educado y obediente. Sabia que no iba a escaparme, solo pensaba en mi salvación, Y tú mi prieto azabache también pensaste igual que yo. Recuerdo que me dijeron pide un deseo pa'[para] justiciarte yo quiero morir monta'o [montado] en mi caballo prieto azabache. Y cuando en ti me montaron y prepararon, la ejecución, mi voz de mando esperaste te abalanzaste sobre el pelotón. con tres balazos de mauser, corriste azabache, salvando mi vida, lo que tu hiciste conmigo caballo amigo no se me olvida. No pude salvar la tuya, y la amargura me hace llorar, por eso prie…to a…za…bache, no he de olvidarte nunca jamás.

La Cucaracha. (The cockroach) One of the most popular songs of the Revolution in Mexico and the best known one in abroad. As children, we were taught a very innocent version in the school, with no marijuana and no revolutionaries in the lyrics.

The cockroach, the cockroach cannot walk any more as he has no more marijuana to smoke. The Carrancistas are leaving they are leaving with empty stomach for the Villistas say they are going to die of hunger. Poor cockroach is bitterly complaining that he has no ironed clothes because of the lack of carbon. (Choir) Poor Madero is left by almost everyone Huerta, the drunken bandit is only good for an ox to plough. We take unstarched clothes day after day and without such chic we are considered blockheads. (Choir) Everyone is fighting for the chair which is the source of much money Pancho Villa at the North and at the South viva Zapata! I am excited to laugh at one thing: to see Pancho Villa without a shirt and I am terrified by one thing: to see the vile Huerta in a shirt. (Choir) I need a good Ford to arrive to the place where the Convention was sent by Zapata. A colorful parrot says to a mottled one whoever jokes with my country let him be taken by the … (Choir) Some plunder a lot and then are hidden far away protected by the law while we are considered guilty. (Choir) How beautiful are the camp-followers when dancing the fandango Viva Pánfilo Natera the pride of Durango. The cockroach is already dead he is taken to be buried he is followed by four eagles and by the mouse of the church.

La Cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no puede caminar, porque no tiene, porque le falta, marihuana que fumar. Ya se van los carrancistas, ya se van por el alambre, porque dicen los villistas, que se estarán muriendo de hambre. Pobre de la Cucaracha, se queja con decepción, de no usar ropa planchada, por la escasez de carbón. (Coro) Pobrecito de Madero, casi todos le han fallado, Huerta el ebrio bandolero, es un buey para el arado. La ropa sin almidón, se pone todos los días; y sin esas boberías, se me figura melón. (Coro) ¡Todos se pelean la silla que les deja mucha plata; en el Norte Pancho Villa, y en el Sur Viva Zapata! Una cosa me da risa: Pancho Villa sin camisa, otra cosa me da horror, al vil Huerta en camisón. (Coro) Necesito algún "fortingo" para hacer la caminata, al lugar donde mandó a la convención, Zapata. Una guacamaya pinta le dijo a una colorada, quien se meta con mi patria, se lo carga la… (Coro) Hay unos que roban mucho, y luego huyen muy lejos, validos de fuero y mando y de que nos creen pen…itentes. (Coro) Qué bonitas soldaderas cuando bailan el fandango. Viva Pánfilo Natera, el orgullo de Durango. Ya murió la Cucaracha ya la llevan a enterrar, entre cuatro zopilotes y un ratón de sacristán.

La Valentina. Another famous song of the Revolution, and one of my favorites. Even if it does not speak about the war, but about one fallen in love with “Valentina”, while he knows how dangerous it is to love her.

Valentina, Valentina, I would like to tell you what a passion rules me that made me to come here. They say that your love is a curse that follows your lover but let the devil take it I also know how to die. Even if I drink tequila today tomorrow I’ll drink sherry even if I’m seen drunk today tomorrow they’ll not see me like that. Valentina, Valentina, I fall on my knees at your feet if tomorrow they will kill me I’ll only be killed only once.

Valentina, Valentina, yo te quisiera decir que una pasión me domina y es la que me hizo venir. Dicen que por tus amores un mal me van a seguir, no le hace que sean el diablo yo también me sé morir. Si porque tomo tequila mañana tomo jerez, si porque me ven borracho mañana ya no me ven. Valentina, Valentina, rendido estoy a tus pies, si me han de matar mañana que me maten de una vez.

There are also corridos that are a veritable history class in verse, like for example these ones.