Mariachi Lyrics Archive
Doña Merced
Broke, cold, and charming as ever. Doña Merced is the bartender Mexico has been sweet-talking since the cantina first opened.
About the Song
Doña Merced is a beloved Mexican comic folk song in the tradition of the canción picaresca — songs that celebrate, with great affection, the pleasures of drinking, the excuses of the broke, and the negotiations of the chronically thirsty. The character of the cantina bartender — Doña Merced herself — is a fixture of Mexican folk culture, the keeper of the only warm place in town, the reluctant creditor of charming drunks. Songs like this one appear across norteño, ranchera, and son traditions, and have been performed at fiestas across Mexico for generations.
Meaning of the Song
Doña Merced is a comedy of dignity and desperation in equal measure. Our hero is broke, cold, and perhaps not entirely honest about when tomorrow will arrive. But the song never mocks him — it celebrates the elegance of his predicament, the poetry of his excuses, the warmth of a cantina that keeps pouring despite everything. There's something deeply Mexican about this: the ability to make an art form out of having nothing, to face the cold night with a glass raised and a song ready. Doña Merced always pours one more.
Watch the Song
Lyrics / Letra
Doña merced
Sírvame otro farolazo
Que al cabo bien se
Que todavía no ando cuerdo
Doña merced
Me está fallando la lana
Sírvame otro farolazo
Ay, se lo pagaré, mañana
El frío que de noche siento
Es por verme abandonado
No con alcohol me caliento
Yo soy pobre y desgraciado
Doña merced
Me está fallando la lana
Sírvame otro farolazo
Ay, se lo pagaré, mañana
El frío que de noche siento
Es por verme abandonado
Ni con alcohol me caliento
Yo soy pobre y desgraciado
Doña merced
me está fallando la lana
Sírvame otro farolazo
Ay, se lo pagaré, mañana
Sírvame otro farolazo
Que al cabo bien se
Que todavía no ando cuerdo
Doña merced
Me está fallando la lana
Sírvame otro farolazo
Ay, se lo pagaré, mañana
El frío que de noche siento
Es por verme abandonado
No con alcohol me caliento
Yo soy pobre y desgraciado
Doña merced
Me está fallando la lana
Sírvame otro farolazo
Ay, se lo pagaré, mañana
El frío que de noche siento
Es por verme abandonado
Ni con alcohol me caliento
Yo soy pobre y desgraciado
Doña merced
me está fallando la lana
Sírvame otro farolazo
Ay, se lo pagaré, mañana
English Translation
Doña Merced
Pour me another shot
Because I know well
That I'm still not sober
Doña Merced
I'm running out of money
Pour me another shot
Ay, I'll pay you tomorrow
The cold I feel at night
Is because...
Pour me another shot
Because I know well
That I'm still not sober
Doña Merced
I'm running out of money
Pour me another shot
Ay, I'll pay you tomorrow
The cold I feel at night
Is because...
Meet Mariachi Los Muertos™
Mariachi Los Muertos™ transforms classic mariachi songs into a collection of vivid characters. Each character in the Mariachi Los Muertos™ group has been developed to embody the spirit of traditional Mexican mariachi songs.
Inspired by the titles and themes of beloved songs, these characters bring to life the rich cultural tapestry of Mexico in a colorful and imaginative way.
Meet Doña Merced
Birthplace: Los Mochis, Sinaloa, México | Band Position: El Triángulo | Favorite Food: Tostadas con Aguachiles | Horoscope: Capricorn
"Doña Merced," is a strong and respected woman who knows exactly how to get things done, she is the backbone of Mariachi Los Muertos. Don’t let her modest instrument fool you—when she strikes that triangle, it’s like a call to arms, and the entire band snaps to attention. On stage, "Doña Merced" may be playing the smallest instrument, but she commands the biggest presence. Her sharp, rhythmic triangle taps are the heartbeat of the group, keeping everyone in line with just a flick of her wrist. Off stage, she’s known for her sharp tongue and even sharper wit, often seen enjoying a plate of tostadas con aguachiles while dishing out advice (and maybe a bit of sass) to her fellow bandmates.
