Mariachi Lyrics Archive
La Borrachita
He's leaving for the capital drunk, trying to forget the woman he couldn't take with him. La Borrachita is heartbreak on the road.
About the Song
La Borrachita is a classic huapango from the Huasteca tradition of eastern Mexico, one of the most emotionally powerful regional folk styles in the country. The song captures the intersection of migration, heartbreak, and drink — a man leaving for the capital to work, drinking to forget the woman he couldn't bring with him. The Huasteca region spans parts of Veracruz, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas, and its music is characterized by the falsetto voice, the intricate violin, and the deep emotional resonance of the jarana huasteca. La Borrachita has been a staple of the Huasteca repertoire for generations.
Meaning of the Song
La Borrachita is three griefs folded into one: the grief of leaving, the grief of loving someone you couldn't take with you, and the grief of the bottle that's supposed to fix it all but never does. The narrator is already drunk before the song begins, trying to outrun a feeling that travels faster than any train to the capital. What makes it devastating is the tenderness — he loved her, she loved him, and none of that was enough to change what had to happen. The drink isn't numbness. It's just the only company he has left.
Watch the Song
Lyrics / Letra
Borrachita me voy para olvidarte
La quiero mucho, también me quieres.
Borrachita me voy hasta la capital
A servir al patrón
que me mandó llamar anteayer
Yo la quise traer, dijo que no
que si había de llorar, p'a qué volver.
Borrachita me voy hasta la capital,
A servir al patrón
que me mandó llamar anteayer.
Yo la quise traer, dijo que no
que si había de llorar, p'a qué volver.
Borrachita me voy hasta la capital
A servir al patrón
que me mandó llamar anteayer
La quiero mucho, también me quieres.
Borrachita me voy hasta la capital
A servir al patrón
que me mandó llamar anteayer
Yo la quise traer, dijo que no
que si había de llorar, p'a qué volver.
Borrachita me voy hasta la capital,
A servir al patrón
que me mandó llamar anteayer.
Yo la quise traer, dijo que no
que si había de llorar, p'a qué volver.
Borrachita me voy hasta la capital
A servir al patrón
que me mandó llamar anteayer
English Translation
Drunk I go to forget you
I love her deeply, she loves me too
Drunk I go to the capital
To serve the patron
Who sent for me the day before yesterday
I wanted to bring her with me, she said no
If there was love...
I love her deeply, she loves me too
Drunk I go to the capital
To serve the patron
Who sent for me the day before yesterday
I wanted to bring her with me, she said no
If there was love...
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 Borrachita
Birthplace: Pachuca, Hidalgo, México | Band Position: Invisible Arpa | Favorite Food: Caldo de Camarón | Horoscope: Leo
"La Borrachita" brings a carefree, yet bittersweet energy to the band. While her harp may be invisible, her presence is anything but—she plays with such passion that you’d swear you could hear the strings resonate through the air. On stage, "La Borrachita" is a whirlwind of emotions, her invisible harp accompanying her as she sways and sings with a playful twinkle in her eye. Off stage, she’s the life of the party, known for her infectious laugh and her stories of adventures in the capital (some of which may or may not be entirely true). She’s the band’s unofficial morale booster, always ready with a joke, a song, or a sip of something strong.
