El chofer – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Vicente Fernandez

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the rich sounds of Mexican culture with Vicente Fernández's "El chofer." This iconic ranchera track, sung by the legendary "King of Ranchera Music," offers a unique window into the Spanish language through its evocative lyrics about a truck driver's extensive travels across Mexico. Learn geographical terms, everyday vocabulary related to work and travel, and cultural nuances of pride and perseverance, all while enjoying Fernández's powerful and emotive vocal delivery that makes every word resonate. This song is special for its vivid storytelling and its ability to transport listeners across the diverse landscapes of Mexico through its words and traditional mariachi sounds.

[English]

I'm hitting the road

I'm the driver

I'll drive through the night until dawn

There’s no time

To waste

I’ve got a long stretch of country to cover

From Tijuana to Yucatán

On the highway, I earn my bread

I’m heading to Torreón

To San Luis, too

Wheel keeps turning, round and round, I’m happy

Then I’m off

To Monterrey

Always alert in case a donkey or ox shows up

Aguas... calientes and its San Marcos Fair!

Goodbye, countrymen

I was there the day before yesterday

In Veracruz

I passed through Puebla, please, dim your lights

From north to south

I go everywhere

To Morelos, Guerrero, I’m a driver

From Ciudad Juárez to Parral

And even to Mexico City

Someone’s waiting for me in Reynosa

Someone’s waiting in Toluca

Someone’s waiting in Cabos

Someone’s waiting in Hermosillo

Someone’s waiting in Tepic

Someone’s waiting in Huentitán

On the national highway

From Laredo to Michoacán

On the highway, I earn my bread

I’m the driver

I’m also going to Sonora, Sinaloa

Conaloa, Durango, Zacatecas

Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro

Hidalgo, Colima, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca

Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Quintana Roo

Oh, son of a...

...

[Spanish]

Voy a arrancar

Soy el chofer

Manejaré la noche hasta el amanecer

Tiempo no hay

Para perder

Tengo un buen tramo de país que recorrer

Desde Tijuana a Yucatán

Por carretera gano el pan

Voy a Torreón

Voy a San Luis

Rueda que rueda, vuelta y vuelta, soy feliz

Luego me voy

A Monterrey

Siempre alerta por si algún burro o un buey

¡Aguas... calientes y su feria de San Marcos!

Adiós, paisanos

Estuve antier

En Veracruz

Pasé por Puebla, por favor, baja tu luz

De norte a sur

Voy por doquier

Voy a Morelos y a Guerrero, soy chofer

De Ciudad Juárez a Parral

Y hasta el Distrito Federal

Alguien me espera en Reynosa

Alguien me espera en Toluca

Alguien me espera en Cabos

Alguien me espera en Hermosillo

Alguien me espera en Tepic

Alguien me espera en Huentitán

La carretera nacional

Desde Laredo a Michoacán

Por carretera gano el pan

Soy el chofer

También voy a Sonora, Sinaloa

Conaloa, Durango, Zacatecas

Nayarit, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Querétaro

Hidalgo, Colima, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca

Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche y Quintana Roo

Ay, hijo de su

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
arrancar a.ranˈkaɾ B1	verb - to start, to ignite
chofer t͡ʃoˈfeɾ A2	noun - driver
recorrer re.koˈreɾ B1	verb - to travel across, to cover a distance
carretera ka.reˈte.ɾa A2	noun - highway, road
alerta aˈleɾ.ta B1	adjective - alert, watchful
aguas ˈa.ɣwas A2	interjection - watch out!
paisanos pai.saˈnos B1	noun - countrymen, fellow citizens
distrito disˈtɾi.to B1	noun - district
espera esˈpe.ɾa A2	noun - wait, expectation
nacional na.θjoˈnal B1	adjective - national
Sonora soˈno.ɾa B1	noun - Sonora (Mexican state)
Durango duˈɾaŋ.ɡo B1	noun - Durango (Mexican state)
tramo ˈtɾa.mo B1	noun - stretch, section
gana ˈɡa.na A2	verb - to earn, to win
federal fe.ðeˈɾal B2	adjective - federal
Huentitán wen.tiˈtan B1	noun - Huentitán (Mexican town)