# Is the Song "Lacoocarocha" about Stomping on Roaches? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2001, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162 "2001-01-09T15:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/1 "2001-01-09T15:34:44Z")
I don’t know if I spelled it right but you know the catchy Mexican song about stomping on a roach I do believe. I don’t know hardly any Spanish so if I got that wrong someone please correct me. You know the tune "la cooc arattchaa…la cooc arattchaa… daaa da da daaa(boy, it is sure is hard to type out a tune). Anyway is the song about stomping on roaches or not? BTW, I love the song I have been humming it all morning and you probably will now too. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/2 "2001-01-09T15:42:09Z")
_La cucaracha, la cucaracha, Ya no puede caminar. Porque no tiene, porque le falta Marihuana que fumar._ The cockroach, the cockroach, Cannot march. Because it doesn’t have, because it lacks Marijuana to smoke. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/3 "2001-01-09T15:42:39Z")
the words I have always known are: _la cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no puedo caminar porque no quiero, porque me falta marijuana que fumar_ Which, **loosely** tranlated means: “the cockaroach, the cockaroach I can’t even walk 'cause I don’t want to, 'cause it’s my fault, I smoked marijuana.” Oddly enough, in an old Speedy Gonzalez cartoon, when his cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez came to visit, those were the words he was singing. ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/4 "2001-01-09T15:44:28Z")
OK, now I gotta go all the way back to the HS days of Spanish class. The words literally translate to something like: La cucaracha, la cucaracha, el no puede a bailar The cockroach, he’s not able to dance. La cucaracha, la cucaracha, blah blah blah blah a hablar. The cockroach, he can only sing. or something like that. Mebbe I’ll look up the lyrics on the web. mebbe I won’t. Regardless of the lyrics, it makes a catchy tune when stompin’ on 'em buggers! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/5 "2001-01-09T15:49:45Z")
Wow. I’m a long way away from my Spanish classes, ain’t I? ---
**Author:** ![muppetsoup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@muppetsoup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muppetsoup)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/6 "2001-01-09T16:01:00Z")
Sorry folks, you are all wrong. _La Cucaracha_ is about a train named _La Cucaracha_, though I’m not sure why anyone would name a train this. Here’s a site withe the original lyrics (non-blunt-smokin’-ones) [http://www.marshfield.coos-bay.k12.or.us/academics/bienvenidos/cucaracha.html](http://www.marshfield.coos-bay.k12.or.us/academics/bienvenidos/cucaracha.html) Translated, it’s basically a song supporting Pancho Villa against whatever government (Spain I would guess). ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/7 "2001-01-09T16:03:29Z")
The original version was about smoking marijuana, not about stomping on roaches. It was a satirical song about Pancho Villa’s army. There have been some censored versions circulating with the marijuana reference deleted. Here is the full original: [http://www.cs.ut.ee/~gordon/varia/lyrics/cucaracha.html](http://www.cs.ut.ee/~gordon/varia/lyrics/cucaracha.html) ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/8 "2001-01-09T16:10:11Z")
**I’m back! Here’s what I found. It may not be any more help.** La cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no quiere caminar, porque no tiene, porque le falta dinero para gastar. Una cucaracha pinta! Le dijo a una colorada: vámonos para mi tierre, a pasar la temporada. Todas las muchachas tienen en los ojos dos estrellas, pero las mejicanitas de seguro son más bellas! La cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no quiere caminar, porque no tiene, porque le falta dinero para gastar. (Otra versión) La cucaracha, la cucaracha Ya no puede caminar Porque no tiene, porque le falta Unas patitas para andar. Ya murio la cucaracha Ya la llevan a enterrrar Entre cuatro zopilotes Y un raton de sacristan. Una cucaracha pinta Le dijo a la colorada Vamonos para mi tierra A pasar la temporada ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/9 "2001-01-09T16:19:09Z")
Man, would somebody please translate these lyrics? ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/10 "2001-01-09T16:28:48Z")
For what it’s worth,Back in the days of Villa,and for many years after,the paper used to roll a smoke was brown wheat paper. Therefore the hand rolled cigarette was brown and resembled a roach------and that’s where the term ‘roach’ came from. Wheat paper was available all through the years right up to WW2. ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/11 "2001-01-09T16:34:44Z")
Let me try Spritle’s versions: The Cockroach can’t walk, because he doesn’t have, he lacks the money to eat. A painted cockroach! I give him (or perhaps “he gave to him”) a colored (bill?) Let’s go to my land to pass the time. All the girls have stars in their eyes, but the Mexican girls are surely the most beautiful! The Cockroach can’t walk, because he doesn’t have, he lacks the money to eat. Other version: The Cockroach can’t walk, because he doesn’t have, he lacks shoes to walk. The Cockroach died, and now their going to bury it between four (somethings) with a rat for the priest. A painted cockroach! I give him (or perhaps “he gave to him”) a colored (bill?) Let’s go to my land to pass the time. REALLY bad Spanish, I’m sorry. Would make more sense if I knew more about Villa. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/12 "2001-01-09T16:47:27Z")
**Spritle** , those are the bowdlerized versions with the marijuana censored out. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/13 "2001-01-09T17:01:16Z")
I’ll try spritle’s version. My Spanish is very much influenced by my English, but I’ll give it the old high school try. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spritle \* > > La cucaracha, la cucaracha, > ya no quiere caminar, > porque no tiene, porque le falta > dinero para gastar. The cockaroach, the cockaroach can no longer walk Because he doesn’t have, because he’s missing Money to waste. > [@](#): > > Una cucaracha pinta! > Le dijo a una colorada: > vámonos para mi tierre, > a pasar la temporada. A cockaroach paints! A colored one said: let’s go to my country, to pass some time. > [@](#): > > Todas las muchachas tienen > en los ojos dos estrellas, > pero las mejicanitas > de seguro son más bellas! All the girls have two stars in their eyes But the mexican girls are the most beautiful for sure > [@](#): > > La cucaracha, la cucaracha, > ya no quiere caminar, > porque no tiene, porque le falta > dinero para gastar. The cockaroach can’t walk 'cause he aint got no cash. > [@](#): > > (Otra versión) > > La cucaracha, la cucaracha > Ya no puede caminar > Porque no tiene, porque le falta > Unas patitas para andar. (Another version] The cockaroach, the cockaroach Can’t walk anymore Because he doesn’t have, because he’s missing A few for legs walking > [@](#): > > Ya murio la cucaracha > Ya la llevan a enterrrar > Entre cuatro zopilotes > Y un raton de sacristan. The roach has died they are taking him to be buried Here comes four [somethings] And a rat of [something] > [@](#): > > Una cucaracha pinta > Le dijo a la colorada > Vamonos para mi tierra > A pasar la temporada A cockaroach paints He said to the colored Let’s go to my country To pass the time ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/14 "2001-01-09T19:58:19Z")
Oh please! My understanding is that “La Cucaracha” is a humorous reference to Pancho Villa’s car. This isn’t going to be perfect, but it will be better that the previous attempts, which miss a lot of the slang. As I’ve lived in Panama the last eight years, my Spanish ain’t too bad. This is a somewhat free translation: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by spritle \* > \*\* > La cucaracha, la cucaracha, > ya no quiere caminar, > porque no tiene, porque le falta > dinero para gastar._\* The cockroach, the cockroach doesn’t want to go now [in the sense of run, as a car] because it doesn’t have, because it lacks, money to spend. The real last line of this verse _should_ be: marijuana que fumar or: marijuana to smoke > [@](#): > > \*\* > Una cucaracha pinta! > Le dijo a una colorada: > vámonos para mi tierre **[should be tierra]**, > a pasar la temporada.\*\* A spotted [probably figurative, signifying “rude, mischevious”] cockroach! I’ll tell you a dirty joke, Let’s go to my place, to pass the season > [@](#): > > **Todas las muchachas tienen > en los ojos dos estrellas, > pero las mejicanitas > de seguro son más bellas!** All the girls have two stars in their eyes, but the Mexican girls surely are the most beautiful! (the others got this one pretty much right.) > [@](#): > > \*\*(Otra versión) > > La cucaracha, la cucaracha > Ya no puede caminar > Porque no tiene, porque le falta > Unas patitas para andar.\*\* The cockroach, the cockroach, Isn’t able to go now [go in the sense of a car running] Because it doesn’t have, because it lacks, Some little paws to run with [run, again, in the sense of a car] > [@](#): > > \*\* > Ya murio la cucaracha > Ya la llevan a enterrrar > Entre cuatro zopilotes > Y un raton de sacristan.\*\* The cockroach just died, Now they are taking it to be buried between four vultures, and a mouse for a sexton [church gravedigger] ---
**Author:** ![jmullaney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@jmullaney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmullaney)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/15 "2001-01-09T20:04:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blessedwolf \* > Oddly enough, in an old Speedy Gonzalez cartoon, when his cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez came to visit, those were the words he was singing. :eek: No way! Way? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/16 "2001-01-09T20:07:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*\* > > Le dijo a una colorada: > > \*\* > > I’ll tell you a dirty joke, Sorry, that should be “He told him a dirty joke.” ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2001, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/17 "2001-01-09T23:52:28Z")
The site linked to by **muppetsoup** has the following text: > [@](#): > > \*\*Se dice que La Cucaracha fue el nombre del carro de Pancho Villa, uno de los revolucionarios más famosos de la época de la revolución Mexicana. Hay muchos versos de la canción, y muchas razones diferentes para explicar por qué no puede caminar la cucaracha. Unos dicen que no puede caminar porque le falta gasolina que quemar, otros que le falta cigarillo pa’ fumar, y la versión bien conocido en México es que no tiene marijuana que fumar. Con mis estudiantes canto que le falta una pata para andar. > > La cucaracha la cucaracha > ya no puede caminar > porque le falta, porque no tiene > una pata para andar > > Una cosa me da risa, Pancho Villa sin camisa > Ya se van los Carrancistas porque vienen los Villistas > > (estribillo) > > Cuando uno quiere a una y esta una no lo quiere > es lo mismo que si un calvo en la calle encuentre un peine > > estribillo) > > La vecina de allí en frente se llamaba Doña Clara > Y si no hubiera muerto es probable se llamara > > (estribillo) > \*\* Which means: They say that “The Cockroach” was the name of the car of Pancho Villa, one of the most famous revolutionaries during the epoch of Mexico’s Revolution. There are many verses to the song, and many reasons to explain why the cockroach can’t run. Some say it can’t run because it lacks gasoline to burn, others that it lacks a cigarette to smoke, the best known version in Mexico is that it doesn’t have marijuana to smoke. With my students I sing that it lacks a leg to walk on. The cockroach, the cockroach isn’t able to run now, because it lacks, because it doesn’t have, a leg to walk on. Something that makes me laugh, is Pancho Villa without a shirt Carranza’s soldiers have already run away Because Villa’s soldiers are coming. (chorus) When a man loves a woman and she doesn’t love him, it’s like a bald man finding a comb in the street. The neighbor woman across the way was called Dona Clara And if I hadn’t died, it’s probable she will be called. [Or some such; being partly in imperfect subjunctive without pronouns, this verse is a little difficult to figure out.] The site linked to by **Jomo Momo** has endless verses about various figures in the Mexican Revolution. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-song-lacoocarocha-about-stomping-on-roaches/49162/18 "2001-01-10T00:41:17Z")
This song is discussed at some length in Katherine Ann Porter’s novel _Ship Of Fools_. It seems likely that hundreds of different verses were invented to go with those notes. WRT marijuana, it happens to be right around 1910 (more or less Pancho Villa’s time) when people started using marijuana in New Orleans, and along the Mexican border, so the fact that Pancho Villa is in some way connected with the song makes me think that the marijuana verses must have been among the first to be sung with it. At least, my comments regarding the history of marijuana are based on various things I’ve heard and read over the years.