Ever since I first heard “No Señor, Yo No Me Casaré” (Eng: “No, Sir, I Won’t Get Married”), I’ve been charmed by its cute and playful expression, helped along by those jaunty mariachi trumpets and upbeat rhythm. It’s rooted in Mexican folk music and is a popular dance song with a polka-like rhythm and some of the cultural flavour of traditional Mexican ranchera music.
The teasing lyrics are to die for, as the woman, despite being in love, chooses to maintain her freedom and enjoy life rather than commit herself to marriage. Finding and translating the lyrics took me longer than any other song so far. I wouldn’t say the translation is 100% correct, though I believe it’s sound. Overall, the lyrics are such an enjoyable read, as is the song itself, of course!
“No, sir, I won’t get married;
that’s what I tell the priest, and that’s what I tell the judge.
No, no, no, no, sir, I won’t get married;
I’m in love, but I’ll hold myself back.”
“No Señor, Yo No Me Casaré” is one of the most memorable songs performed by the iconic Mexican actress, singer and television host Verónica Castro (see video below). I couldn’t find a release date for her version, but an earlier related version, “Yo No Me Caso, Compadre” (Eng: “I’m Not Getting Married, Buddy”) is credited to Sebastián Curiel in the UCLA Frontera Collection and is listed among songs from 1959.
No Señor, No Me Casaré / No, sir, I will not marry
Así le digo al cura / That’s what I’ll tell the priest
Y así le digo al juez / And that’s what I’ll tell the judge
No, no, no, no, señor, no me casaré / No, no, no, no, sir, I will not marry
Yo estoy enamorada / I am in love
Pero me aguantaré / But I’ll hold myself back
Yo no me caso / I’m not getting married
Compadre querido / My dear friend
Porque la vida / Because life
Es puro vacilón / Is just one big lark
No puedo hallar / I can’t find
El amor consentido / The love I truly desire
Que sea la dicha / The one that will bring happiness
De mi corazón / To my heart
Por eso quiero / That’s why I want
Pensar un poquito / To think things over a little
Pa’ no meter / So I don’t end up putting
Las cuatro patas / All four feet
De un jalón / In it at once
Si al encontrarme un amor / If, when I find someone to love,
Le digo vengase usted / I tell him, ‘You come on over, then
Si al rato digo, pos’ no” / “What if later on I say, ‘Well, no’?
Pos no se puede / Well, that just won’t do
Y si me quiere amarrar / And if he wants to tie me down
Le digo no, no podré / I’ll tell him, “No, I can’t”
Mejor se busca por ahí / You’d be better off looking elsewhere
Otro querer / For someone else to love
No, señor, yo no me casaré / No, sir, I will not marry
Así le digo al cura / That’s what I’ll tell the priest
Y así le digo al juez / And that’s what I’ll tell the judge
No, no, no, no, señor, no me casaré / No, no, no, no, sir, I will not marry
Yo estoy enamorada / I am in love
Pero me aguantaré / But I’ll hold myself back
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
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