For those of us that grew up with Speedy Gonzalez and remember his cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez, it is somewhat astounding to look back and realize that Slowpoke was actually singing a song about marijuana. What is even more strange, is that there were several “kid friendly” versions of the song that were sung where the last line was replaced with something more benign, but for some reason, the makers of this cartoon allowed Slowpoke Rodriguez to sing the unmistakable reference to weed in a cartoon. For kids. Riiiiiiiight.
See for yourself in the “Sowpoke Rodriguez – Mexican Boarders” episode.
Spanish
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar
Porque no tiene, porque le falta
Marihuana que fumar.
(In Spanish, as in English “Roach” or “Cockroach” is slang for a marijuana cigarette stub.)
English
The cockroach, the cockroach
Can’t walk anymore
Because it doesn’t have, because it’s lacking
Marijuana to smoke
To really drive the point home, Slowpoke Rodriguez exhibits all the critical sterotypes of your typical stoner – slow-moving, always hungry, droopy eyes and slurred speech.
LA cucaracha is an arabic song brought by the moors to al andalus, the columbus boats in 1492 were mainly moslems escaping the reconquista.
I sung this song so much as a child because I loved this character. I had no idea
I was singing about marijuana. too funny!!! I guess I shouldn’t sing things I don’t understand.
I thought it was lacucaracha lacucracha see them boiling in the pot. Lacucaracha lacucaracha eat them while their nice and hot.