https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqBEQ0DpTKs
Background
Recorded between 1955-1967 in San Antonio by Flaco Jimenez ‘Mojado Sin Licensia’, translated to ‘W**back* without a licenses’, discusses the struggle of a man who is undocumented in the United States. The term used in the title of the song is derogatory and describes those who crossed the Mexican-United States Border.
360 View of San Antonio: Microsoft Bing Travel – San Antonio
The song begins with the singer explaining that he has come to marry his ‘Chencha’ from Laredo to San Antonio but is unable to because he is a “W**back” and is asked for his driver’s license for every instance. Within the first few lines of the song, the audience is able to notice the references to Texas, including the cities of Laredo, a Mexican border city and San Antonio, a city with a high Hispanic population. ‘Mojado Sin Licensia’ is described to be Norteño music. Norteño music was developed in the 19th century and is a mixture of local Mexican music and ‘Austrian-Czech-origin’ folk music. Norteño music is representative of Texas’ Hispanic-heritage population and how their culture is intertwined with various groups of people. The lyrics of Norteño music often allude to socially relevant topics and the music traditionally includes the accordion and the bajo sexto. Within ‘Mojado Sin Licensia’, Flaco Jimenez alludes to the social issues of immigration, the life of undocumented people, and all in an ironically light mood created by the accordion and danceable music. Being that Texas is a state that has been controlled by 6 different groups including itself, the people of Texas have absorbed different cultures. In addition, Texas is a border state which speaks to why immigration is such a pertinent subject in their state.
- Norteno Music: Accordion
About the Artist
Leonardo ‘Flaco’ Jimenez was a singer, songwriter, and accordionist of Mexican descent from San Antonio, Texas. Flaco Jimenez was born in 1939 and known for playing Norteño and Tejano music. Jimenez comes from a family of musicians with his father, Santiago Jiménez Sr. and grandfather Patricio Jiménez, being in the music industry. Lenardo Jimenez was given the nickname “Flaco”, translating to Skinny in English, which was also his father’s nickname.
Mojado Sin Licensia Lyrics
Desde Laredo a san Antonio
Yo he venido a casarme con mi Chencha
Y no he podido, por ser mojado
Pues para todo me exigen mi licencia
Se me hizo facil comprar un carro
Para sacar a pasear a mi presencia
Y por la noche fui dar al bote
Porque no traiba ni luces ni licencia
Al fin de todo salà del bote
Con muchas ganas de ver a mi Checha
La hallé paseando con un gabacho
El mero jefe que arregla las licencias
Ya me regreso para Laredo
Ya que he sufrido ya basta de verguenzas
Estos gabachos son abusados
Perdi mi carro y me quitaron a Chencha
Works Cited
“Flaco Jiménez – Un Mojado Sin Licencia Album Reviews, Songs & More.” AllMusic, 31 Dec. 1969, https://www.allmusic.com/album/un-mojado-sin-licencia-mw0000619524.
“Flaco Jimenez…(1975)…El Mojado Sin Licencia.” YouTube, YouTube, 17 Nov. 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqBEQ0DpTKs.
“UN Mojado Sin Licencia – Flaco Jimenez with Fred Ojeda.” SongLyrics.com, https://www.songlyrics.com/flaco-jimenez-with-fred-ojeda/un-mojado-sin-licencia-lyrics/.
“Santiago Jimenez, Sr… Musica Tejana.” YouTube, 10 July 2017, youtu.be/Rp_nq3TeABw.
