Songs Español/English

"Tuxtla" [En Español]     Words and Music by Gloria Garcia Tuxtla, Gutierrez, my native soil It is Chiapas, Mexico where I was born I can never forget you because I carry your Memories here deep inside of me. I crossed the border to Del Rio, Texas After we swam and walked all the way Immediately, these coyotes, after they cheated us, Left us there and we began to cry. We went several nights and days on foot Without knowing which route or way to go I jumped over horrible snakes many times So that I barely succeeded to escape their fangs. I don't know how I arrived in San Antonio. And when I opened my eyes and asked, "Where am I?" A voice told me, "You are in my house And you are very sick, but you will get better." My first paycheck I was thinking Of my children and so I sent money to them So that they will not suffer the same as their mother, And they won't experience these hardships or go hungry or thirsty. I felt faint I don't know how many times And nearly died from hunger and thirst. Sleeping in crypts The Migra (border patrol) passed by here, But by the grace of God, I was freed of them.

"Tuxtla" is the personal account of Gloria Garcia's immigration from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico to Texas.

 

Diego Rivera La Era, 1904 Oil on canvas Diego Rivera Museum, Guanajuato,Mexico     "Zacarías Aguilar" is a true story that occured in a small town close to San Antonio, Texas. Eva Ybarra's parents told it to Eva who passed it on to Gloria. Gloria then made it the subject of this corrido. "Yoyi" is Gloria's nickname. She included her name as the female character in this corrido.

"Zacarías Aguilar" [En Español]

Words and music by Gloria Garcia I am going to sing, friends, a story that unfolded of a beautiful young lady they called "la Buena Yoyi." Her father was a farmer her mother kept the home Aguilar, a man with guts I will never forget him. Zacarías set in his place ? He laid his eyes upon Gloria No one could take them away. Through many letters Gloria gave her support Her parents never learned of her secret correspondence He went to her parents to ask her hand in marriage But they would not grant it Zacarías became angry Something would have to be done He went into a cantina And ordered a drink Sip by sip he waited All he could think of was killing Be careful, ladies and gentlemen The trap they fell into Hiding amongst the cows A scuffle broke out Her parents came out To see what happened With a .22 rifle He took their lives. Upon hearing the shots Gloria's uncle came out Seeing his family dead He went after Zacarías. With his pistol in his hand the courts couldn't touch him With a gunshot to his head Zacarías's head was blown apart Fly, fly little dove Don't stop These are the tales of Zacarías Aguilar

 

"Carlos y Matilde" [En Español] Words and music by Gloria Garcia Pay attention, ladies and gentlemen, to what I shall sing to you The story I am going to tell you it's the truth And now that I have your attention It happened in the month of March In the year nineteen eighty Matilda Sanchez died A woman of great beauty The men wanted her All rich and noble ? She was already in love With Carlos,a farmer He loved her also His love was always capable He asked her hand in marriage And put a ring on it To prove his love to her To make her his wife ? They tied Carlos up They raped Matilda And then took her Carlos asked "Help me please" With a pistol in his hand He killed four men And he wandered everywhere ? ? He became a contrabandist Carlos became very sad His love is was already dead He shot himself in the head Resting by his love's side With your permission I'm going to go I don't want you to ever forget this tragedy

We had difficulties transcribing this corrido. This corrido tells of something that really happened in Chiapas, Mexico. Gloria Garcia says it came to her in Chiapas, in a small town where there are rough men who take power over women, whether they are married or not.

 

"A mi San Antonio" [En Español]   Music and arrangement by Eva Ybarra "Ybarra has successfully cultivated a style that is defiantly original though resolutely bound to the conjunto tradition...Whether playing a polka, huapango or waltz, Ybarra embellishes even the simplest melody-line by firing off 16th and 32nd note chromatic runs without losing a beat." -Cathy Ragland

 

"Macario Leyva" [En Español] Los Monteños Lo Nuevo en Corridos de la vida real     There were so many gunmen that came from Acapulco to kill don Macario on the cattle ranch When they got to the ranch, since she didn't know them they said: "Miss, we're agents, police agents". The woman replied: "My husband just left, come inside gentlemen, he won't be long at all". When they came inside they took off their hats, showing the lady that they were gentlemen. When they saw him come they smiled at each other: "The money is in the bag, We've got him But they never paid attention to that humble lady, she shot them all in the back with an assault rifle. Don Macario Leyva said: "Come, my lovely wife, if it weren't for your valour, they would have taken my life". And so the story ends from the rancho La Saga, no more guns for those who kill for pay.

Macario Leyva presents a woman in a role untypical for women in early corridos, though illustrates one of the two different images of women Maria Herrera-Sobek describes in smuggling corridos, particularly those beginning around the 1970s. This image is the liberated woman, who is involved in drug smuggling activities like men in this genre. The woman hero in Macario Leyva, protecting her husband against thugs with the use of an assault rifle, takes on the image of the strong, liberated woman. This corrido is believed to be from the Costa Grande of Guerrero, Mexico, and appeared in the early 1970s.