‘La Cucaracha’ lyrics in Patois, the Jamaica Dialect
The explanations of the La Cucaracha song has been very controversial, and dare say largely unknown. The song has its origin in Mexico for sure, and it is widely believed that it has to do with the Revolution. Some even arguing that the original song degrades women soldiers, and that by keeping the song alive the insults continue with the memory kept alive when Mexican women were likened to cockroaches. Here’s a link to one view on the orginal song La Cucaracha being sexist.
ENGLISH LYRICS OF ‘LA CUCARACHA’ FOR CHILDREN
So somewhere along the line of history, numerous versions have been created and adapted worldwide.
As the song, moreso its tune gets more and more adapted, the lyrics have been improved to create an image of a playful cockroach ‘la cucaracha’ for children. Now the versions spark appreciation of the cockroach, while teaching them environmental lessons.
Here’s are the lyrics to one version performed by Jamaican students of the Simon Bolivar Institution, downtown Kingston at the Institute of Jamaica.The Patois version is below and otherwise found on this site.
‘THE COCKROACH’ LYRICS in English (‘LA CUCARACHA’ LETRA en Espanol)
The cockroach, The cock roach (La Cucaracha, la Cucaracha)
It cannot walk anymore (ya no puede caminar)
Because it does not have, (porque no tiene,)
Because it is lacking (porque no faltan)
The two hind legs it should. (las dos patrias de atrás.)
They say that the cockroach (Dicen que la cucaracha)
Is a small animal (Es un animal pequeño)
And when he enters a house (Y cuando entra en una casa)
He has to take over as the owner. (Se tiene que quedar dueño.)
The cockroach, The cock roach (La Cucaracha, la Cucaracha)
It cannot walk anymore (ya no puede caminar)
Because it does not have, (porque no tiene,)
Because it is lacking (porque no faltan)
The two hind legs it should. (las dos patrias de atrás.)
When you want a cockroach (Cuando una quiere a una)
And it doesnt have any legs, (Y esta una no lo quiere)
It’s the same as finding a bald (Es lo mismo que si calvo)
In the street without a comb. (En la calle encuentra un piene.)
The cockroach, The cock roach (La Cucaracha, la Cucaracha)
It cannot walk anymore (ya no puede caminar)
Because it does not have, (porque no tiene,)
Because it is lacking (porque no faltan)
The two hind legs it should. (las dos patrias de atrás.)
‘La Cucaracha’ lyrics in Spanish and English (children version) below.
La Cucaracha (PATOISlyrics)
Di cackroach, Dih cackroach,
Im naw guh walk anymore
Because ‘im doan gat
Because im missing
‘Im two back leg dem.
Dem seh dat dih cackroach
An wan lickle animal suh
An wen im enta wan house
Im gwaan like a im a di owna.
Di cackroach, Dih cackroach,
Im naw guh walk anymore
Because ‘im nuh gat,
Because im missing
Im two back legs.
Wen you wan find a cackroach
An di wan yu fin nu gat nuh foot
Is di same as wen yu gat…
Wan bald man in dih street wid a comb.
Di cackroach, Dih cackroach,
Im naw guh walk anymore
Because ‘im nuh gat,
Because im missing
Im two back legs.
Photo by leafhopper77 
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