La Ley Del Chinito Lyrics in English by Alfredo Olivas
Chinito is the diminutive form of chino, meaning 'Chinese person'. While it literally translates to 'little Chinese person', in this context, it refers to a specific Mexican idiom: 'la ley del chinito'.
This phrase, 'la ley del chinito', is a colloquial expression meaning 'the law of the little Chinese person'. It implies a situation where someone is given a choice, but ultimately, the outcome is predetermined and not in their favor. It's a dark and intriguing phrase that suggests a lack of real agency or escape, making it a unique and memorable word from the song.
"La Ley Del Chinito" is Alfredo Olivas calling out people who betrayed him and are now pretending to be innocent. He opens by mocking those who suddenly act pious, swearing they "walk in the ways of Christ" right after making deals with the devil, people he once trusted as messengers.
Midway through, he names the style directly, calling this a corrido, not a caricature, tying the song to the genre's tradition of telling real, hard stories rather than cartoon versions of them.
The rest is a warning. He says it's too late for anyone who wronged him to win back his favor, that cooperating now won't save them, and that "la ley del chinito," a saying about letting a rival walk once he gives up his weapons, does not apply to him. He'd rather deal with people face to face than leave any loose ends.
