Cockroaches (Re: "kook")

[jbor]

Hi Otto

No, it surely must have been a watered down version, and the rest of the
lyric was in English. But it was the same tune. It was way back in primary
school, but I can remember it vividly in our official Education Department
songbooks. I don't think that the 'I Love Lucy' or Ginger Rogers (?)
versions would have been quite the same pro-marijuana ode either!

Reminds me of how Roony smokes string from Bloomingdale's. It was hemp
string, obviously. Is this another "urban myth" like the sewer alligators?

best

----------
>From: "Otto Sell" <o.sell at telda.net>

> La Cucaracha
>
> La cucaracha, la cucaracha
> Ya no puede caminar
> Porque le falta, porque no tiene
> Marihuana que fumar
>
> Did they really teach you these lyrics as a kid?
> Yes, yes, the grass is greener in Adelaide!
>
> "La Cucaracha" was Pancho Villa's nickname and his habitually red eyes did
> not result from thinking.
>
> Otto
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: jbor <jbor at bigpond.com>
> To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2001 1:06 PM
> Subject: Cockroaches (Re: "kook")
>
>
>>
>> ----------
>> >From: <lycidas2 at earthlink.net>
>> >
>>
>> >>
>> >> I don't think that the names "Kook" or Cucarachito, when used by his
> friends
>> >> and family, are either meant or taken offensively.
>> >
>> > I'm not sure. Perhaps P has selected this name to play off
>> > the stereotypes. So the name, cucarichito (only noted once)
>> > is not so much part of the story, as a subversive naming by
>> > the author.  It could be a name affectionately given to the
>> > boy when he was tiny. "My little mouse", "my little bug." We
>> > can't say. But, while Pynchon may like bugs, cockroaches,
>> > little or big, are not well liked in NYC.
>>
>> See also 362.25 and 364.7: "Cucarachita".
>>
>> Can't find the English lyrics anywhere, but I certainly remember being
>> taught 'La Cucaracha' as a kid.
>>
>>
> http://www.mty.itesm.mx/dcic/carreras/lcc/cine_mex/peliculas/cucaracha.html
>> http://www.tue.nl/best/songbook/spanish.htm
>> http://www.eaglerock-is.com/ilovelucy/ill-x2.asp
>> http://www.cannabinoid.com/wwwboard/culture/messages/1/1680.shtml
>> http://www.the-forum.com/EPHEMERA/popsong.htm
>> (see 1936)
>>
>> best
>>
>>
>
>
>