EL GATO AMERICANO – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: GRUPO LABERINTO

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of regional Mexican music with Grupo Laberinto's "El Gato Americano." This corrido tells a captivating story of a celebrated horse, offering a glimpse into the culture of equestrian sports and the pride associated with a champion. By exploring this song, you can connect with a rich narrative tradition and appreciate the storytelling power of Latin American music.

[English]

The colt at the auction, they bought him very expensive

In a Louisiana track, he was led by an American, not looking to be light

They raced him for a claim

...

In a five-thousand-dollar clay, the horse is a gift

Martín Trejo, a Mexican trainer, said

Salty King Corona, today this one changes hands

In a short time, the horse looked pretty

They highlighted the photos, always a little white hand, some times breaking records on the track

...

The Espinoza brothers from La Cuadra Los Piedreros bought this bay after seeing he was light

Martín, Margarito, and Jesse brought him to Austin, Texas

Now he's here in the paddocks, he’s the cat

The American caretaker Juan Mendez watches over him

Chico Ramírez, mounted, doesn't hit the cat, just rides supported

From the rails, the bay received an invitation

Nine doors filled with a match for the nation, all very light heats

The five would be the box

With a bang of the doors, a loud noise, the people, the American kitten, came to the front center

Little by little, they whitened him by winning the strongest

...

[Spanish]

El potrillo en la subasta, lo habían comprado muy caro

En un traque de Lousiana lo traía un americano, no pintaba ser ligero

Lo corrio por un reclamo

En un clayn de cinco mil el caballo es un regalo

Matrin Trejo es un experto entremador mexicano dijo

El Salty King Corona este dia cambia de manos

El caballo en poco tiempo lucía una estampa bonita

Le resaltaban las fotos siempre una mano blanquita algunos tiempos quebrabá, poniendo records de pista

Los hermanos Espinoza de la cuadra los piedreros compraron ese alazán al ver que estaba ligero

Martin, Margarito y Jesse a Austin Texas lo trajeron

Ya esta aqui en las parejeras es el gato

Americano su cuido lo trae Juan Mendez

Chico Ramirez montado, al gato no lo golpea lo lleva solo apoyado

Del carril los alazanes le llego una invitación

Se llenaron nueve puertas de un abierto a la nación, puras cuñas muy ligeras

El cinco sería el cajon

Al tronido de las puertas hizó un estruendo la gente, el gatito americano al centro se vino al frente

Poco a poco hasta blanquearlos al ganarse lo mas fuerte

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
potrillo /poˈtɾiʎo/ A2	noun - young horse
americano /ameɾiˈkano/ A1	adjective - American
caballo /kaˈβaʝo/ A1	noun - horse
regalo /reˈɣalo/ A2	noun - gift
experto /eksˈpeɾto/ B1	noun - expert
cambio /ˈkambio/ B1	noun - change
mano /ˈmano/ A1	noun - hand
puerta /ˈpweɾta/ A2	noun - door
estruendo /esˈtɾwendo/ B2	noun - noise, loud sound
ganarse /ɡaˈnaɾse/ B1	verb - to earn, to win
luz /luθ/ A1	noun - light
tiempo /ˈtjempo/ A1	noun - time
pista /ˈpista/ A2	noun - track
hermanos /eɾˈmanos/ A2	noun - brothers
cuadra /ˈkwadra/ B1	noun - stable

Key Grammar Structures

• En un traque de Lousiana lo traía un americano, no pintaba ser ligero

  ➔ Use of past tense to describe a completed action ('traía' = 'was bringing') and the use of a negation ('no pintaba') to express improbability or lack of indication.

  ➔ 'Traía' is the imperfect tense of 'traer' indicating an ongoing or habitual past action.

• Lo corrio por un reclamo

  ➔ Use of simple past tense to describe a completed action ('corrió' = 'he ran') and the preposition 'por' to indicate the reason or cause.

  ➔ 'Corrio' is the preterite of 'correr', indicating a completed action in the past.

• Le resaltaban las fotos siempre una mano blanquita algunos tiempos quebrabá

  ➔ Use of imperfect tense ('resaltaban') to describe ongoing or habitual background action and the imperfect 'quebraba' to indicate repeated past actions.

  ➔ 'Resaltaban' and 'quebraba' are imperfect tense forms, used to describe habitual or ongoing past actions.

• El caballo en poco tiempo lucía una estampa bonita

  ➔ Use of the imperfect tense 'lucía' to describe an ongoing or descriptive past action and the noun phrase 'una estampa bonita' as a complement.

  ➔ 'Lucía' is the imperfect of 'lucir', indicating a descriptive or ongoing action in the past.

• El cinco sería el cajon

  ➔ Use of the conditional or future tense 'sería' to express uncertainty or a tentative identification ('El cinco sería...').

  ➔ 'Sería' is the imperfect conditional form of 'ser', used here to suggest uncertainty or a tentative identification.

• Al tronido de las puertas hizó un estruendo

  ➔ Use of preterite tense 'hizo' to describe a completed action ('hizo un estruendo') and the noun 'estruendo' as the object.

  ➔ 'Hizo' is the preterite tense of 'hacer', used here to indicate a completed action.

• El gatito americano al centro se vino al frente

  ➔ Use of reflexive construction 'se vino' in preterite tense to indicate movement or change of position ('he came to the front'), and the use of 'al' (a + el) as a preposition.

  ➔ 'Se vino' is a reflexive verb form in the preterite tense indicating that the subject moved or came to the front.