La Cucaracha
Note the original lyrics and the reference to cartoncitos, which were a type of scrip issued as pay.
"La Cucaracha" ("The Cockroach") is a traditional Spanish language folk song of the genre known as a corrido, that became popular in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution.
Origins
The song "La Cucaracha" is of Spanish origin. It gained its greatest popularity during the Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century.
However, the song is mentioned in 1883, and possibly as early as 1818.
Lyrics
The lyrics consist of independent verses, often improvised. It is similar to Yankee Doodle, The Burning of the School or On Top of Old Smoky.
The most traditional Spanish version is as follows:
La cucaracha, la cucaracha,
Ya no puede caminar
Porque no tiene, porque le falta
Las dos patitas de atras
English
The cockroach, the cockroach,
Can't walk anymore
Because it doesn't have, because it's lacking
Its two back feet
Another typical version is as follows:
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar
Porque no tiene, porque le falta
Marihuana que fumar.
English
The cockroach, the cockroach
Can't walk anymore
Because it doesn't have, because it's lacking
Marijuana to smoke
The reference to marijuana arose during a period of time---approximately the time of the Mexican Revolution---when the word cucaracha was also a slang term for marijuana or a marijuana cigarette stub (hence the term "roach" in American slang).
Another Example:
La cucaracha, La cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar
Porque no tiene, porque le falta
Una pata par(a) andar
English:
The cockroach, The cockroach
Can't walk anymore
Because it doesn't have, because it's lacking
A leg to walk
Another example:
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar
Porque no tiene, porque le falta
La patita principal.
English
The cockroach, the cockroach
Can't walk anymore
Because it doesn't have, because it's lacking
The front leg
In contexts where the mention of marijuana would be unsuitable, limonada que tomar ("lemonade to drink") or las patitas de atrás' ("its hind legs") are frequently substituted for the last line. This preserves both story and, in the Spanish version, meter.
Cuando uno quiere a una (When a man loves a woman)
Y esta una no lo quiere, (but she doesn't love him back)
Es lo mismo como si un calvo (it's like a bald man)
En calle encuentra un peine.
(That's what she would call herself)
During the Mexican Revolution, rebel and government forces alike invented political lyrics. In some versions, the cockroach is President Victoriano Huerta, who was a notorious drunk, and considered a villain and traitor due to his part in the death of revolutionary President Francisco Madero.