El Venadito – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Valentín Elizalde

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of Mexican Regional music with Valentín Elizalde's iconic "El Venadito"! This classic corrido is not just a catchy tune; its rich lyrics, full of colorful metaphors and playful double entendres, offer a fantastic way to immerse yourself in Spanish as it's spoken and understood in cultural contexts. You'll not only learn new vocabulary but also experience the joyful and untamed spirit that makes Mexican music so special, all through the heartfelt voice of 'El Gallo de Oro.'

[English]

I'm a poor little deer living in the mountains

I'm a poor little deer living in the mountains

Since I'm not that gentle, I don't go into the water during the day

At night, little by little, and in your arms, my love

I asked a very beautiful lady if she would wash my laundry

I asked a very beautiful lady if she would wash my laundry

The cursed woman replied, “If you want, I’ll even wash it for you.”

Just come early, because coming late hurts you.

...

I've already found the cactus where I have to cut the prickly pear

I've already found the cactus where I have to cut the prickly pear

Since I'm a proper man, I don't like having just one

I like to have two, in case one gets angry

I'd like to be a fine pearl for your shiny earrings

I'd like to be a fine pearl for your shiny earrings

To give you kisses and bite your cheeks

Who makes you so beautiful, that even makes me commit to you

I'm going to make a cheap one and a big production

...

I'm going to make a cheap one and a big production

Old ladies for a penny, girls for a cheap treat

Sons‑in‑law for six cents and mothers‑in‑law for a bundle

Well, that's all from me, but I'll be back soon

Well, that's all from me, but I'll be back soon

Just that God saves me from

Those kind that, oh dear, Mom, for God's sake, but they end up at the door

...

[Spanish]

Soy un pobre venadito que habito en la serranía

Soy un pobre venadito que habito en la serranía

Como no soy tan mansito, no bajo al agua de día

De noche poco a poquito y en tus brazos, vida mía

Le dije a una muy bonita, que si me lavaba el paño

Le dije a una muy bonita, que si me lavaba el paño

Me contestó la maldita, "si usted quiere hasta lo baño

Nomás vengase temprano porque tarde le hace daño"

Ya tengo visto el nopal donde he de cortar la tuna

Ya tengo visto el nopal donde he de cortar la tuna

Como soy hombre formal, no me gusta tener una

Me gusta tener de a dos por si se me enoja alguna

Quisiera ser perla fina de tus lucidos aretes

Quisiera ser perla fina de tus lucidos aretes

Para darte de besitos y morderte los cachetes

Quien te manda a estar bonita, que hasta a mí me comprometes

Voy hacer una barata y una gran realización

Voy hacer una barata y una gran realización

Las viejitas a centavo, las muchachas a tostón

Los yernos a seis centavos y las suegras de pilón

Ya con esta me despido, pero pronto doy la vuelta

Ya con esta me despido, pero pronto doy la vuelta

Nomás que me libre Dios de una niña mosca muerta

De esas que, ay, mamá por Dios, pero salen a la puerta

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
venadito ve.na.ˈði.to A2	noun - young or small deer
habito a.ˈbi.to A1	verb - to live or reside in a place
serranía se.ra.ˈni.a B1	noun - mountain range or mountainous area
mansito man.ˈsi.to A2	adjective - docile, tame
lavaba la.ˈβa.ba A1	verb - to wash (imperfect indicative of lavar)
baño ˈba.ɲo A1	noun - act of washing or cleaning with water
nopal no.ˈpal B1	noun - cactus plant with flat, oval leaves
tuna ˈtu.na A2	noun - fruit of the nopal cactus, prickly pear
formal for.ˈmal A2	adjective - following established norms or conventions
aretes a.ˈre.tes B1	noun - earrings
cachetes ka.ˈtʃe.tes A2	noun - cheeks
barata ba.ˈra.ta B1	noun - party or sale at low prices
realización re.a.li.za.ˈθjon B2	noun - action of realizing or doing something
tostón tos.ˈton B1	noun - coin of little value
pilón pi.ˈlon B2	noun - something additional or extra

Key Grammar Structures

• Soy un pobre venadito **que** habito en la serranía

  ➔ Relative clause with the pronoun *que* + present indicative

  ➔ The word **"que"** introduces a clause that describes the deer: *que habito en la serranía*.

• **Como** no soy tan mansito, no bajo al agua de día

  ➔ Causal conjunction *como* meaning “since / because”

  ➔ The word **"Como"** introduces the reason for not going into the water.

• Le dije a una muy bonita, **que si** me lavaba el paño

  ➔ Indirect speech with *que* + conditional *si* clause

  ➔ The phrase **"que si"** introduces a conditional question within reported speech.

• Me contestó la maldita, "**si** usted quiere hasta lo baño"

  ➔ Conditional clause with *si* + present indicative

  ➔ The word **"si"** introduces a condition: *si usted quiere* = “if you want”.

• **Nomás vengase** temprano porque tarde le hace daño

  ➔ Formal imperative *vengase* (reflexive) with *nomás* (just) and causal *porque*

  ➔ The verb **"vengase"** is a formal reflexive imperative meaning “come” (usted).

• Como soy hombre formal, **no me gusta** tener una

  ➔ Verb *gustar* with indirect object pronoun and infinitive complement

  ➔ The phrase **"no me gusta"** uses the indirect object pronoun *me* and the infinitive *tener*.

• **Quisiera** ser perla fina de tus lucidos aretes

  ➔ Imperfect subjunctive *quisiera* expressing a polite wish or hypothetical desire

  ➔ The verb **"Quisiera"** is the imperfect subjunctive of *querer*, softening the request.

• **Para** darte de besitos y morderte los cachetes

  ➔ Purpose clause introduced by *para* + infinitive

  ➔ The word **"Para"** introduces the intention: *para darte...* = “in order to give you…”.

• Los yernos a **seis centavos** y las suegras de pilón

  ➔ Use of preposition *a* to indicate price or cost

  ➔ The preposition **"a"** before *seis centavos* signals the cost: “for six cents”.

• Ya con **esta me despido**, pero pronto doy la vuelta

  ➔ Reflexive verb *despedirse* with direct object pronoun *me*

  ➔ The phrase **"me despido"** uses the reflexive pronoun *me* to mean “I say goodbye”.