This is a song from the state of Veracruz, Mexico. There are hundreds of different versions in practically every mexican idiom: Son Jorocho, conjunto, marichi, even cumbia.

This version if from an album by Krishnasol Jimenez, Maria Kiehr and Roberto Koch, 'Navigating Foreign Waters'. Their arrangments combine Spanish Baroque compositions with mexican traditional son. This one uses a tune for 17th Century composter, Santiago de Murcia

More information and liner notes download is at: https://www.brilliantclassics.com/articles/n/navigating-foreign-waters-spanish-baroque-music-mexican-folk-music/

The song is about a fisherman who falls in love with the lovely Maria Chuchena who bathes at the mouth of the river near the sea. He calls to her to swim out to his boat so they can swim away. That's the whole story, the rest is birds, Butterflys, flowers, fragrances, a falling star and a non-sencical refrain about 'roofing your house' (go figure).

MARÍA CHUCHENA Spanish lyrics and translation follow: Por aquí pasó volando una linda chuparrosa una linda chuparrosa por aquí pasó volando, y en su piquito llevaba dos claveles y una rosa que el viento le deshojaba como blanca mariposa. María Chuchena bótate al agua junto a la proa de mi piragua María Chuchena bótate al mar a navegar y le decía: María María no techo tu casa no techo la mía no techo tu casa no techo la mía no techo la casa de María García. Lucero brillante hermoso baja del quinto planeta que yo pondré en tu peineta un tulipán oloroso. María Chuchena se fue a bañar a orillas del río a orillas del mar María Chuchena se estaba bañando y el pescador la estaba mirando y le decía María María no techo tu casa no techo la mía no techo tu casa no techo la mía no techo la casa de María García. Dime qué flor te acomoda para írtela a cortar azucena o amapola o maravilla del mar azucena o amapola o maravilla del mar para cuando estés tú sola tengas con quien platicar. María Chuchena bótate al río junto a la proa de mi navío María Chuchena bótate al mar a navegar y le decía: María María... Ya me voy flor de sabana perfumado amanecer con el sol de la mañana quisiera volverte a ver con el sol de la mañana quisiera volverte a ver como rosa campirana y no dejarte de oler. María Chuchena se fue a bañar…

MARÍA CHUCHENA English: This way flew a beautiful hummingbird, a beautiful hummingbird this way flew. And it carried two carnations and a rose in its beak, whose leaves the wind stripped like a white butterfly. María Chuchena, jump into the water by the prow of my canoe. María Chuchena, jump into the sea to sail away, and he told her: María, María, I don’t roof your house, I don’t roof mine, I don’t roof your house, I don’t roof mine, I don’t roof the house, of María García. Beautiful, bright star, come down from the fifth planet, for I will place in your comb a fragrant tulip. María Chuchena went to bathe by the riverside, by the seaside. María Chuchena was bathing, and a fisherman looked at her, and he told her: María, María, I don’t roof your house, I don’t roof mine, I don’t roof your house, I don’t roof mine, I don’t roof the house, of María García. Tell me what flower you like so that I can gather it for you, white lily or poppy or wonder of the sea? White lily or poppy or wonder of the sea? So when you are alone you have someone to talk with. María Chuchena, jump into the water by the prow of my canoe. María Chuchena, jump into the sea to sail away, and he told her: María, María… I’m leaving now, flower of the plain, fragrant dawn, I would like to see you again with tomorrow’s sun. I would like to see you again with tomorrow’s sun like a rose from the fields, and not stop smelling you. María Chuchena went to bathe…

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