La Muerte Chiquita

the orgasm as a small death. Very appropiate if you ask me.

I don't think that's it. I mean, if it was about orgasm as a small death, where does the machete thing fit? Or the shadows?

I've no idea what it's about, but I doubt it's about orgasms... if anything, sounds to me more like a hooker, and a guy "in love" or "addicted" to her, and the life in the gutter...

Actually, you're both right.

La muerte chiquita if translated literally means the small death, But in the song, it is used as an adjective to describe the woman in the song.. In Mexico and in many Latin american countries, "chiquita" is used as a pet name for your girl friend, wife, etc.. Just like the equivalent of calling your girl babe, baby, baby doll. "Dame la muerte, chiquita", "Give me death, Little one". The song goes on to describe in first person, why he is so in lust with this mysterious woman. Maybe a prostitute, maybe a forbidden love? It doesnt explain. The use of the word "Usted" is also commonly used as a form of respect or as mentioned before as formal version of "you". The song basically describes a man so in lust with this mysterious woman/prostiute, that he would kill if anyone would hurt her. The use of the words "machete", "tamarindo" (tamarind, a staple mexican candy or drink made of tamarind seeds mainly used by lower class families)also points out the social status of this man, which is lower class, a mexican indigenous person. "Dame La muerte, chiquita", "kill me with love, little one".Or if you prefer "fuck the shit out of me, baby".. the song is an original composition by Enrique Rangel, cafe tacuba's bass player.

Of course there are no intimacy, the guy just loves and respects that woman so much that he would die for a night with her, or defend her with his machete at the cost of his life. He just want to receive "La petite mort" from her at least one time.

For my point of view, this song is about a man wishing to have an orgasm, with a highly seductive and enigmatic woman in town.

La muerte chiquita (for those still wondering) comes from the french "La petit mort". However, "chiquita" is used for it is a more popular word in reference of something small instead of "pequeña" which would be the correct translation.

Because of the use of a 3/4 compass and the music arrangement using marimba, it could be determined this man lives in the coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, perhaps in Oaxaca or Chiapas.

First verse tells us this man is asking a woman to give him the pleasure of being with her, sexually speaking. Perhaps she is new to him because he doubts about getting what he wants with her, but still he hopes to succeed.

Second verse uses metaphors to describe this woman by what the man has heard about her:

She has some strong temperament as the sea when high tide occurs. Everybody notices it as it reference this part by saying its an essence more than a fact. Her lips are dark and appetizing like a Tamarind fruit, but as the Tamarind flavor is between sweet and sour depending on how you eat it, it would mean she can be truly lovely or totally rude.

Her eyelashes are long and abundant as palm trees but this only enhances her eyes, which with her eyebrows, produces a astonishing look on her. Thats why every time she blinks he becomes sort of hypnotized.

However, although he is almost falling in love with her, he's been told she had a destructive relationship in the past and she still can't recover from it, being totally wounded inside and thus carrying her negativeness everywhere she goes.

Third verse mutes the beat section and the jarana which have been playing during the song, revealing a kind of marimba solo. During this part (as in the first verse, although here he is more determined) he tells her in a macho way to get laid together, but just in time he switches to a more kind mode by telling her he pray to god requesting being with her for even just a second of his life.

Fourth verse: he switches back to the macho mode as a way to impress her and cure her wounds by admitting his vengeance to her last relationship would be sweet. He even would kill this man with a machete. Thus admitting also he has fallen in love with her.

In the last verse the man is determined to assassinate her ex relationship. By doing so, the woman will be cured, she will no longer suffer from sadness. That's why he urges her to get laid. He could die at the end and thus, never had the pleasure of being with her, again, sexually speaking.

Well, I'll attempt to translate this...:

"The Small Death"

Give me the small death Give me the little death And so maybe in your arms I will reach fulfilled grace

Your essence of high tide Your tamarind kisses Your eyelashes two palm trees To which their rocking I surrender

They say you bring the shadows And are wounded on the inside

Give me the small death Before the last dream A thing I ask to God A second to be your owner

Vengeance is a sweet thing And this machete I have Is in case someone hurt you Because for you I would die

Is in case someone hurt you Because for you...

They say you bring the shadows And are wounded on the inside For a night in your bed, I'm capable of giving my life.

It's worth noting that throughout the song, every time the second person is referred to, it's in the form of the Spanish "usted", which is the formal version of "you", and not really used between people with any form of intimacy, as the lyrics suggest.

Also, I believe this song is a cover.