El Moreño

The song "El Moreño" by Lupillo Rivera is a corrido, a traditional Mexican ballad that often tells a story of heroism, struggle, and sometimes the exploits of bandits or local heroes. The lyrics of "El Moreño" narrate the tale of a man known as El Moreño, who is characterized by his boldness and defiance. The opening lines invoke the protection of the 'Santo Niñito' (Holy Child), suggesting that divine favor is needed for the events that are about to unfold.

As the story progresses, El Moreño is depicted as a man who proclaims his courage, declaring that he does not back down ('no se rajaba'). His ascent into the mountains ('encumbrandose en la sierra') and his claim that only God can forgive him imply a sense of recklessness and a possible outlaw status. The mention of jumping a wire fence ('brincando un cerco de alambre') and having plenty of ammunition ('todavia me sobra parque') further paints a picture of a man on the run, possibly from the law or from enemies.

The song takes a turn when El Moreño's luck runs out. His misfortune is illustrated by the image of him tumbling ('rodando como una bola') and dropping his gun. Despite having ammunition ('tenia parque'), it was of no use to him, leading to his capture by the police in San Ignacio. The corrido concludes with a metaphorical 'vuela vuela palomita' (fly, fly little dove), which could symbolize the end of El Moreño's freedom. The song ends with the acknowledgment that this is where the corrido of the famous El Moreño concludes, leaving listeners with a tale of bravado that ultimately meets an unfortunate end.