La calaca [English translation]

Be careful gentlemen,

because death's ready and waiting

in the Panteón de Dolores.1

she2 has a little space

for composers,

and one or two for journalists,

lawyers and doctors,

everyone's on the list.

Tuku, tuku, tuki, taka3

Death*4 is awfully mischievous

when we least expect it

we're ready to kick the bucket,

I escaped from her once

but she almost caught me.

The coward sees danger and runs,

the brave fight back and die,

that's why there's so few of us left.

Death doesn't show her true colors

nor does she make any distinction

she takes the poor and the rich

with their millions all the same,

one goes in a golden casket

and the other in just his underwear

but as time passes

both will end up in their bare bones.

Tuku, tuku, tuki, taka

Death is awfully mischievous

the weak and the powerful (must die),

no one escapes from death

we all have the same end

on a petate5 or in a suitcase.

Well, why did you all leave me by myself

if you know that I misbehave?

I knew of a merchant

who was good at swindling his clients,

things that were worth five

he sold them for twenty,

but he died suddenly

from the cold, poor man

he was sent to hell

so the devil could "warm him up".

Tuku, tuku, tuki, taka

Death is awfully mischievous

all of the rich folk

grab them by their ties

undesirable usurers

they latch on like ticks6.

Yes sir, death follows no law

the same thing kills the Pope

and the same happens to the king.

The laborer earns his bread

with the sweat of his brow

so that his children can eat

although not enough,

while many opportunists

live violating the law

earning what they want

by acting like an idiot.7

Tuku, tuku, tuki, taka

Death is awfully mischievous

I ask that you all forgive me

if I've made it worse

although they're very similar

an idiot and a cow aren't the same thing.

I don't ask hunger for bread

nor death for chocolate.

Life's balance is very uneven,

there's few that earn much

and many who don't earn anything

the labor of a working man

has no compensation

with the minimum wage

there's isn't even enough for bus fare8.

Tuku, tuku, tuki, taka

Death is awfully mischievous

if you know the devil

beg him not to be so thankless,

(tell him) to make the cost of living

cheaper for the rest of us.

Be careful gentlemen,

those of you who are voting

here come the elections

with its manipulators,

and each party says

that you should vote for them

and that from here on out

we'll be living like kings.

Tuku, tuku, tuki, taka

Death is awfully mischievous

and here comes another president

to play for us the maraca

he promises so many things

but all he gives us is...9

Tuku, tuku, tuki, taka

1. "Panteón Civil de Dolores" is the largest cemetery in Mexico and contains the "Rotonda de las Personas Ilustres". [Reference]2. death is feminine in Spanish, just fyi if you see that throughout the song.3. It's meant to rhyme with the word "calaca".4. look for the asterisk in the "author's comments" for more information.5. a bedroll used in Central America and Mexico. Its name comes from the Náhuatl word petlatl. [Reference]6. lit. 'they suck like ticks'.7. referring to the word "güey"8. she meant to say 'calzones' = there's isn't even enough (to buy) underwear9. they don't say it but the next word is "caca" = he promises so many things but all he gives us is shit (or bullshit).