Ray asked:
Hi,
I learned this song in the 5th grade (in my 60’s now) and wanting to find the lyrics… Here is what I remember of the song…
Down in Mexico it’s sunny
Days are warm and sweet as honey
Children in the lazy weather
Laugh and sing and play together.Mothers… don’t remember…
Weaving long and weaving well…All I recall…
Just hoping you might have some info… would love lyrics and chords (guitar)… if possible…
Thanks,
Ray C
If anyone can help with this song, please let us know in the comments below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
This article was posted on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 at 6:06 pm and is filed under American Kids Songs, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Languages, Mama Lisa, Questions, Readers Questions, USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
August 15th, 2009 at 12:03 am
I too remember this song as a 2nd grader. I am almost 59 years of age now..i remember it fondly ..sometimes i would be permitted to sit next to my teacher as she played it on the piano..tears would well up and fall thinking of my Mexican father who i had never met..that is until i was 14. i too play the guitar and would welcome the same answers to the questions that you have posed. Thanks, Francisco Verduzco
August 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Linda sent me this email:
I think the song goes something like this…
Down in Mexico
Where the peppers grow
There’s a song they know
chapinaquos,
They will dance and sing
Till the rafters ring
To the song they call
chapinaquos
yda yda yda
Not sure about the spelling of chapinaquos (chapinacus???)
That’s all I can remember and I don’t know how right it is but I tried.
Thanks Linda!
August 29th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Here’s as far as I remember:
Down in Mexico it’s sunny
Days are warm and sweet as honey
Children in the lazy weather, run and laugh and play together.
Busy women nod and chatter weaving long and weaving well.
Home again when day is over.. and that’s all I can remember.. sorry but please if any else remembers..let me know!
September 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
It is from “Sing Out,”the 5th grade music book of a series by Peter Dykema. I remember it too.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:39 am
In the fields the men are planting
Cotton, corn and sugar cane.
Cowboys from the haciendas
Gallop to a gay refrain.
Repeat chorus.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:53 am
I learned this in the fourth grade back in Gilmer Texas in the early 50s. I taught it to my daughters and they delighted in making funny variations. Like “Days are warm and sweet as mustard”. We have had a lot of fun with it ove the years.
The same book that I learned this song from from had Erie Canal and other songs that I have remembered over the years. The book had a red cover.
Thanks for the memories.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:31 am
After seeing above that our music book was by Peter Dykema I was able to buy an old music book by Peter Dykema on Ebay. It was an older book, but maybe it’s in there. If so I will give a good update on “Down in Mexico”
This is fun, I didn’t know that there were other folks who care about old things.
My kids say I live in the past, so be it. I do what I enjoy.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Chiapenicas – the Mexican Clapping Song
Down in Mexico
Where the peppers grow
There’s a tune they know
chiapenicas.
They will dance and sing
Till the rafters ring
Clap their hands til they sting
Chiapenicas, and then
with a merry sound
swing their partners round
while the busy world hurries by.
Swaying to and fro
Down in Mexico
with a smile in each dark eye.
December 17th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Thanks for that! I love the internet that we can all share our songs with each other!
February 11th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
I have had this song on my mind now for the last 5 years since I’ve retired and am living in Mexico. I would love to have the lyrics to sing the complete song as I keep singing the first part over & over and have been driving myself crazy trying to remember more of it.
I grew up in Texas and am 72 years old and sang this song in elementary school. I appreciate all the answers so far and welcome finding all the lyrics. I was beginning to think I must have dreamed up the song as no one has been able to help me down here.
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:11 am
In Mexico recently for only the second time in my 69 years, I recalled some of this song that I learned in grade school in San Francisco.
Looks like we’ve got all but one line now—what is that???
“Down in Mexico it’s sunny
Days are warm and sweet as honey
Children in the lazy weather, run and laugh and play together.
“Busy women nod and chatter, weaving long and weaving well.
Home again when day is over
[WHAT IS THIS LINE???]
Repeat refrain
“In the fields the men are planting
Cotton, corn and sugar cane.
Cowboys from the haciendas
Gallop to a gay refrain.”
Repeat refrain
June 10th, 2010 at 11:44 am
I LEARNED THE SONG IN MY 3RD GRADE (1973)
DOWN IN MEXICO IT’S SUNNY.
DAYS ARE WARM AND SWEET AS HONEY.
CHILDREN IN THE LAZY WEATHER,
RUN AND LAUGH AND PLAY TOGETHER.
BUSY WOMEN IN THE CHATTER(?)
WEAVING LONG AND WEAVING WELL.
STACKS OF BASKETS, COLORED BLANKETS (?)
RAINBOW RACKS TO SHOW AND SELL
July 28th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I got on the internet to find the lyrics to this song I have been singing the first stanza for close to 60 year. I think I was in first grade. I was at Edison Elementary school in San Francisco.
Down in Mexico its sunny
days are warm and sweet as honey
children in the lazy weather love to run and play together.
I guess the fact that so many of us loved is speaks to its classic nature – a great song that is filled with love of country.
I remember Erie Canal too.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
I loved this song as a child. My mother still has the lyrics so here they are as I learned and knew them.
Cho. Down in Mexico it’s sunny, Days are warm and sweet as honey,
Children in the lazy weather Run and laugh and play together.
#1 Busy women nod and chatter, weaving long and weaving well.
Scarf and basket, colored blanket, Rainbow rug to show and sell.
to Cho.
#2 From the mines the dusty miners Climb the ladders with their
packs, Bringing up the hidden treasure, silver, ore, upon their
backs.
to Cho.
#3 Village boys at early morning Drive their cattle out to graze;
Drive them back when day is over Homeward thro’ the yellow
haze.
to Cho.
#4 In the fields the men are planting Cotton, corn and sugar cane;
Cowboys from the haciendas Gallop to a gay refrain.
to Cho.
Enjoy!
October 22nd, 2010 at 7:09 pm
I remember that song’s 1st. verse very well. I learned that around 1950, in the 3rd. grade at Longmead School in Cleveland, Ohio.
Thanks to all of you for posting the entire song. It sure does bring back very fond memories of a better time.
October 26th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
I LEARNT THIS IN KANSAS IN 5TH GRADE,OUR TEACHER WOULD ALWAYS GO TO MEXICO EACH SUMMER AND SHE ALSO TAUGHT US SO SPANISH! THIS WAS IN THE LATE 50’S. I NOW WAS GOING TO SING IT TO MY GREATGRAND SON AND COULDN’T REMEMBER ALL THE LYRICS. IT IS A HAPPY SONG TO SING TO CHILDREN AND FOR THEM TO LEARN. COULDN’T BELIEVE ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! THANKS FOR THE LYRICS!
November 12th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Most of the verses from maratzloff are correct, but I believe this verse goes:
Busy women nod and chatter
Weaving long and weaving well
Gay serapes and colored blankets
Rainbow rugs to show and sell
I learned this in 1951 when I was student teaching at the Driscoll School in Brookline, MA. The third grade teacher, Miss Garfield, was doing a culminating unit on Mexico and the children learned this song and the Mexican Hat Dance as well. I didn’t remember all the verses but this one I do remember. maratzloff has the right lyrics for most of the verses. It brings back happy memories for me too. The children put on a play, decorated the room, danced and sang. it was great. I played the piano. By the way, do any of you know “The Two Grenadiers?” I learned it in the 40’s when I was a child.
February 18th, 2011 at 3:10 am
i too remember this song. i learned this during the my elementary days in the 70’s. in the Philippines. but i can only sing the first phrase
August 20th, 2011 at 1:43 am
I learned the version that Gerri listed above with the chorus,
” Aye Chiapinacus aye aye (clap clap)
Aye Chiapinacus aye aye (clap clap)
Aye Chiapinacus aye aye (clap clap)
Aye Chiapinacus aye aye (clap clap)
Sing sing sing chiapinacus
dance dance dance chiapinacus
dah dah dah chiapinacus
and dah dah dah dah dah and clap (clap clap)
Okay, so I do not recall all of the chorus and replaced with “dah”
October 12th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
I’m 66 and this song has been in my head for years. I hear the marimba players in Mexico playing it but none know the words when I ask. How delightful to find it here. Of all the songs I learned in grammar school, this one was the most fun to sing and clap and is the only one that stayed with me (minus many of the words). Glad to hear I’m one of many who remember it and loved it.
October 23rd, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Well, I am a ‘girl’ from ‘downunder’ and nearly 60 too. I too remember this song from my schooldays and remembered it. Googled the title for the lyrics and found all your comments. Such wonderful days.
January 16th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
I remember it from second , third, or fourth grade.
Been singing it for many years
January 16th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
That’s neat Jimmy… if you’d ever like to sing it for us, we’d love to add a recording!
February 21st, 2012 at 12:45 am
Finally!!!!! I’ve asked all my friends, they think I’m loosing it. WAIT just wait ’til I tell them. I was in the 7th grade, Mrs. Pacifico she was wonderful and she taught us this song. I’ve been singing it 1969
September 2nd, 2012 at 11:49 am
This is too funny. I too learned this song in 7th grade. I always loved this tune, i guess its a memory of youth..down in mexico, where the peppers grow….
November 11th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
I think we sang this song about 65 years ago in second or third grade in Lindbergh Elementary School in Dearborn, Michigan, but the only line I think I remember from the version we sang went like this:
Gone now, worry and sorrow,
Gladly we dance till tomorrow
Come, come, come dance through the night
the chiapenacus, aye, aye,
clap, clap!
May 26th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
This song has been living rent-free in my head for many years. Learned it in the mid-60’s. We sang it in school and I played it on the piano too. I had forgotten the words and just had a vague recollection of the first line so I googled it and found THIS jackpot of lyrics. We have been watching a lot of baseball recently and they often play a clip of it during the games to fire up the crowd. Nobody seemed to be able to help me remember…until today! THANKS!
June 19th, 2013 at 1:35 am
So I was born in ’81 and my family would play this on a record throughout my childhood. I moved to California later in life and thought my many friends of hispanic and Mexican descent would know of it. Oh to be young and naive. Anyway, what a memorable song. If anyone has a digital audio track, I’d like to use it in my wedding. please email me. andrew at k s u dot edu
March 13th, 2014 at 11:49 pm
This is a local version (Edinburg Tx circa 1955)
Down in Mexico it sunny
Days are warm and sweet as honey
Children in the lazy weather
run and laugh and play together
without no shoeses on
May 5th, 2014 at 1:46 am
Thank you, Maratloff!
I learned this song at Katella ELementary School across the street from Disneyland in the mid 1950’s. Its charming tune has haunted me all my adult life, taunting me with tiny scraps of long forgotten lyrics. Finally, tonight I remembered, “Days are warm and sweet as honey,” and it was just enough to do a Google search. What a joy to find the lyrics again after all these years!
January 20th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Thanks guys, reading through your comments, I kept thinking, surely someone will get the whole thing yet. And sure enough – someone came through. My third grader is studying about Mexico and I started singing this lazy song this morning. I think the kids thought I was making it up. Now we can learn it.
February 28th, 2015 at 11:03 pm
This song came to mind yesterday, out of the blue. I Googled it today out of curiosity and was delighted to find this page. I taught this song in 1965-66. In the second part of the chorus, where Denise, on Aug. 20, 2011, has “sing sing sing chiapinacus”, and “dance dance dance chiapinacus” I remember singing “Aye, aye, aye Chiapinacus” (or however it’s spelled) through the first three lines, and the last being “Aye Chiapenicas aye, aye (clap clap)”.
March 16th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
I am still teaching, part time, at age 71. I learned that song when I was in 6th grade in Oakland, California when we were studying Mexico
. The first phrase has been in my head for years. I am going to have my K/1 students sing it at our Cinco de Mayo program along with doing La Raspa, which I also learned in school. Thanks so much. I do remember the whole tune. Lucky us for the internet. This way we can remember anything.
April 1st, 2015 at 5:32 pm
There are two different songs being quoted in these comments. “Down In Mexico It’s Sunny” and “Chiapenacus,” or “Sing Chiapenacus,” I’m not sure which. Seems like they’re both 3/4 time, but “Chiapenacus” is faster.
April 15th, 2015 at 7:47 pm
Here is the tune to Chiapenacus…I remember it well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVeSNLkmbGs
April 23rd, 2015 at 11:25 pm
Down in Mexico where the peppers grow There’s a tune they call Chiapenecas They will dance and sing til the rafters ring Clap their hands til they sting Chiapenecas And then with a happy sound swing their partners round while the busy world hurries by swaying to and fro down in Mexico with a smile in each dark eye Aye aye Aye Chiapenecas Aye Aye Clap Clap (4 times) Sing sing sing Chiapenecas Dance dance dance Chiapenecas Clap clap clap your hands and you’ll see how much fun it will be singing aye aye aye Chiapencas aye aye aye Chiapenecas Now your partner you’ll swing as you sing Chiapenecas and clap Clap clap!!
‘
September 18th, 2015 at 12:28 am
I know this post is old as ef but this is it….https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQgfFIZy_Fg
December 22nd, 2015 at 6:55 pm
I also remember that song and I too was in the 5th grade
I was thinking about it when I passed by my old elementary school ( I too am pushing 70)
It is such a nice wholesome song for kids.
January 26th, 2016 at 10:50 am
https://youtu.be/IQgfFIZy_Fg
I found the version I grew up with here. I have this song on the original 45 and have loved it since I was a kid.
August 25th, 2016 at 3:20 am
I’m always singing this song :-) though i only knew the first stanza and it’s melody. taught to us during our grade school here in the Philippines. I always feel a sense of happiness and filled with memories singing this..Ms. Olap, our music teacher, has the softest voice i’ve ever heard.. so im singing it now and then i said to myself..why don’t i google its lyrics hehehe! have a happy day guys
September 10th, 2016 at 10:54 pm
I learned this song at Armstrong Elementary School in Dallas, Texas. Probably 4th, 5th or 6th grade.
At 74 I still find myself singing it. Over the past decades I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Mexico
several times and regret never moving there. It is such a beautiful place with some of the sweetest
people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.
June 5th, 2017 at 4:18 am
The song is about the state of CHIAPAS in the south of Mexico.
It says ” ay chiapaneca ay ay”
That what they call women from Chiapas.
I will see if I can find the Mexican song that has the tune.
January 25th, 2018 at 7:31 pm
I learned the Chiapenacas song in the 60s. This is what I remember.
Down in Mexico
Where the peppers grow
There’s a tune they call chiapenacas
They all dance and sing
Till the rafters ring
To this tune they call chiapenacas
Sing, sing, sing chiapenacas
Dance, dance, dance chiapenacas
Sing, sing, sing with your partner
And swing in a ring as we dance and we sing
Aye, aye, aye chiapenacas
Dance, dance, dance chiapenacas
Sing, sing, sing chiapenacas
Swing in a ring as we sing.
There was more that I can’t remember. The Sunny Mexico song is not familiar to me at all. But that’s a different song, isn’t it? Also I’m sure I must be misspelling chiapenacas.
Smithy
September 16th, 2018 at 12:26 am
I’ve had this song in my head and sung it once in a while ever since 3rd grade at Valley Springs Elementary School in Skyland, NC! We even had a Mexican hat dance we did when we sang it. I can’t believe so many of us still remember at least the first verse!! Thanks for sharing a wonderful memory!!
October 5th, 2018 at 4:13 am
Yes, I still remember the first four lines of this song. Learned it from Itaas Elementary School in Muntinlupa City in the Philippines in the mid-70s. Been searching for it in YouTube and other sites.
February 14th, 2019 at 12:05 pm
omg… I finally found the lyrics of this song.. I’m from the Philippines. I was in my last year in college back in 2001 when our music professor taught us this song. I love the melody so I memorized the lyrics, but I forgot the last part. So it’s “rainbow rug to show and sell…” 😊
February 15th, 2019 at 1:37 am
The sentencing of El Chapo brought this song straight into my brain. I am pretty sure that we did this as part of a folk dance unit in gym class in 5th or 6th grade at Brighton School in Rochester NY. Ay Chiapanecas ay ay (*clap clap) (repeat 3 more times) or Oh Chiapanecas like this (*clap clap)
Gone now worry and sorrow
Gladly dance til tomorrow
Come come join the dance
Once again Chiapanecas like this (*clap clap)
The dance was quite simple, like the “mexican hat dance.” There was some arm-in-arm twirling. I remember it being pretty embarrassing since we had to dance with the boys!
July 14th, 2019 at 6:58 pm
I am from Calcutta and at present 62 years old and still teaching Mathematics at an undergraduate college.
I learnt this song in school ( Calcutta Girls’ High School, an American Missionary school) during 1967 – early 70’s.
We were lucky to have an exceptionally good piano teacher and wonderful singing classes with her, where we used to sing from books called world music horizon . This was a series of books. I’d love to know if these books are still available in the market. And yes lovely to know that so many of you still remember the song.
August 14th, 2019 at 1:16 am
I learned this wonderful song “Down in Mexico…where the peppers grow” in 5th grade in 1960s and have played it on the piano for years. I couldn’t remember all the words with the chorus and stumbled on them here! I love this old tune …thanks!
January 8th, 2020 at 5:53 pm
I’m another one who has had this rattling around in my head since Washington Elementary School in Ottawa, Illinios, in the mid-1950s. “My” version goes:
There’s a song they know,
In old Mexico
There’s a tune they call chiapanecas
They all dance and sing
Till the rafters ring
Clap their hands as they sing chiapanecas, sing, sing!
Sing, sing, sing chiapanecas
Dance, dance, dance chiapanecas
Sing, sing, sing with your partner
And swing in a ring as we dance and we sing
Aye, aye, aye chiapanecas
Dance, dance, dance chiapanecas
Sing, sing, sing chiapanecas
Swing in a ring as we sing.