Mariachi Lyrics Archive
La Bamba
Born on the shores of Veracruz and carried across centuries, La Bamba is Mexico's most joyful dare — a song that asks for a little grace, and takes everything you've got.
About the Song
La Bamba is one of Mexico's oldest and most celebrated folk songs, rooted in the Son Jarocho tradition of Veracruz — a coastal musical style born from the blending of Indigenous, African, and Spanish cultures in the 17th century. The song's name is believed to derive from a West African word, a nod to the enslaved people who shaped Veracruz's cultural identity. Traditionally performed with harp, jarana, and requinto guitars, it was a staple of festive celebrations and wedding dances, where couples would tie a ribbon into a bow using only their feet — a beloved courtship ritual. It gained international fame in 1958 when Ritchie Valens recorded his electrifying rock adaptation, introducing the world to its irresistible rhythm. Yet the heart of La Bamba has always belonged to Veracruz, where it was born on the wind off the Gulf.
Meaning of the Song
La Bamba doesn't ask permission — it pulls you onto the floor before you've decided to dance. At its heart, it's a song of joyful transformation: the singer is no sailor, no, but for you he becomes a captain. Love, it turns out, is the ladder you climb to reach heaven. The verses are playful, almost teasing — a little grace, a little something more — never quite revealing the secret of the dance, only insisting you feel it. Even Cupid gets called in at the end, begged to let the song finally rest. But of course, it never does. La Bamba is 400 years old and still refuses to sit down.
Watch the Song
Lyrics / Letra
Para bailar La Bamba, Para bailar La Bamba
se necesita una poca de gracia,
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita y arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba y arriba iré yo no soy marinero
yo no soy marinero por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti seré
Para subir al cielo, Para subir al cielo se necesita
una escalera grande, una escalera grande y otra chiquita
Ay, arriba y arriba, Ay, arriba y arriba y arriba iré
Yo no soy marinero, Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán
soy capitán, soy capitán
Cuando canto la bamba, cuando canto la bamba
yo estoy contento por que yo me acompañó,
por que yo me acompañó, con mi instrumento
y arriba y arriba, arriba, y arriba arriba iré
yo no soy marinero, yo no soy marinero por ti seré, por ti seré
Ay cupido te pido, Ay cupido te pido
por compasión que se acabe la Bamba.
Que se acabe La Bamba y venga otro son
Ay arriba y arriba ay Arriba y arriba y arriba iré yo no soy marinero
yo no soy marinero por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti seré
(…..Bamba, Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba, Bamba)
se necesita una poca de gracia,
Una poca de gracia y otra cosita y arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba y arriba iré yo no soy marinero
yo no soy marinero por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti seré
Para subir al cielo, Para subir al cielo se necesita
una escalera grande, una escalera grande y otra chiquita
Ay, arriba y arriba, Ay, arriba y arriba y arriba iré
Yo no soy marinero, Yo no soy marinero, soy capitán
soy capitán, soy capitán
Cuando canto la bamba, cuando canto la bamba
yo estoy contento por que yo me acompañó,
por que yo me acompañó, con mi instrumento
y arriba y arriba, arriba, y arriba arriba iré
yo no soy marinero, yo no soy marinero por ti seré, por ti seré
Ay cupido te pido, Ay cupido te pido
por compasión que se acabe la Bamba.
Que se acabe La Bamba y venga otro son
Ay arriba y arriba ay Arriba y arriba y arriba iré yo no soy marinero
yo no soy marinero por ti seré, por ti seré, por ti seré
(…..Bamba, Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba, Bamba
Bamba, Bamba, Bamba)
English Translation
To dance La Bamba,
To dance La Bamba you need a little grace,
A little grace and something more, and up and up
Oh, up and up, and up I'll go
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor, but for you I will be, for you I will be, for you I will be
To climb to heaven,
To climb to heaven you need a big ladder,
A big ladder and a smaller one
Oh, up and up, and up and up and up I'll go
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor, I am a captain
I am a captain, I am a captain
When I sing La Bamba, when I sing La Bamba
I am happy because I accompany myself,
Because I accompany myself with my instrument
And up and up, up and up and up I'll go
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor, but for you I will be, for you I will be
Oh Cupid, I ask you, Oh Cupid I ask you out of compassion
Let La Bamba end, let La Bamba end and let another son begin
Oh up and up, oh up and up and up I'll go
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor, but for you I will be, for you I will be, for you I will be
(Bamba, Bamba, Bamba…)
To dance La Bamba you need a little grace,
A little grace and something more, and up and up
Oh, up and up, and up I'll go
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor, but for you I will be, for you I will be, for you I will be
To climb to heaven,
To climb to heaven you need a big ladder,
A big ladder and a smaller one
Oh, up and up, and up and up and up I'll go
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor, I am a captain
I am a captain, I am a captain
When I sing La Bamba, when I sing La Bamba
I am happy because I accompany myself,
Because I accompany myself with my instrument
And up and up, up and up and up I'll go
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor, but for you I will be, for you I will be
Oh Cupid, I ask you, Oh Cupid I ask you out of compassion
Let La Bamba end, let La Bamba end and let another son begin
Oh up and up, oh up and up and up I'll go
I am not a sailor, I am not a sailor, but for you I will be, for you I will be, for you I will be
(Bamba, Bamba, Bamba…)
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 La Bamba
Birthplace: Tijuana, México
Band Position: Founder, Vocals, Guitara
Favorite Food: Street Tacos
Horoscope: Aries
Band Position: Founder, Vocals, Guitara
Favorite Food: Street Tacos
Horoscope: Aries
Meet La Bamba, the adventurous and energetic co-founder of Mariachi Los Muertos, hailing from Tijuana, México! With the boldness of an Aries, he’s the vibrant vocalist and master of the guitara, always ready to ignite the stage with his fiery spirit. Known for his love of street tacos, La Bamba can often be found with a taco in one hand and his guitara in the other, strumming out tunes that make the skeletons dance.
His positivity is as infectious as his music, and he’s so confident he once challenged a ghost to a sing-off—and won! La Bamba embodies that same youthful charisma and raw talent. Whether he’s leading the band with his powerful vocals or dazzling the audience with his guitara skills, La Bamba brings a whirlwind of fun and excitement to every performance. Just don’t be surprised if he invites you for a taco after the show—he’s always on the lookout for the next great taco stand!
His positivity is as infectious as his music, and he’s so confident he once challenged a ghost to a sing-off—and won! La Bamba embodies that same youthful charisma and raw talent. Whether he’s leading the band with his powerful vocals or dazzling the audience with his guitara skills, La Bamba brings a whirlwind of fun and excitement to every performance. Just don’t be surprised if he invites you for a taco after the show—he’s always on the lookout for the next great taco stand!
