La Cucaracha

La Cucaracha originally comes from Spain, but has been widely adapted throughout Mexican history. This song is often a vessel for describing or satirizing the current politics of the time. The lyrics cleverly mask the song’s message, using aspects of a fable.

La Cucaracha has evolved over the course of a century, with references dating back to the Mexican Revolution. We’ve kept it much simpler with a repeating line about a cockroach that can’t walk because it lost its two hind legs.If the melody seems jarring at first, take note of the time signature. This version is arranged in 3/4 time though,  most people are probably familiar with the song in 4/4. La Cucaracha is arranged in the key of F Major with lyrics + solfège. It features great melodic leaps, scale patterns and a song form that you’ll want to repeat all day, olé!