Borracho directly translates to "drunkard" or "drunk person." It's a very direct and evocative word that immediately sets the tone for the song.
In "El Diario De Un Borracho," the word is central to the song's theme, as the protagonist explicitly states, "En él me ahogará para morirme borracho" (In it I will drown myself to die drunk). This word is not only memorable but also encapsulates the song's narrative of heartbreak and seeking solace in alcohol, making it highly enticing for a learner to explore the story behind it.
Aniceto Molina's "El Diario De Un Borracho" is a lively cumbia tune with a surprisingly sad story! Our singer tells us he's "nunca he sido feliz" [never been happy] in life, feeling like he's destined for "una traición y gran sufrir" [betrayal and great suffering] if he were to be reborn. To cope, he wants to "ahogarme en el licor" [drown himself in liquor] to forget a woman's betrayal.
He declares he'll keep drinking "Mientras viva no dejaré de beber" [As long as I live I will not stop drinking] until he finds happiness in love. He's writing in his diary, wandering the world, feeling a "dolor tan profundo" [pain so profound] and lonely. He believes he came to this world "pa' sufrir" [to suffer], finding no joy in women, and even imagines drowning himself in a sea of "agua ardiente" [firewater] to "morirme borracho" [die drunk]. It's a dramatic, yet incredibly catchy, tale of heartbreak and seeking solace in drink.