In 1960, he started in music with Gibraltarian band 'The Diamond Boys', which had no real commercial success, but played a part in Spain's introduction to popular music.In 1966 Hammond co-founded the British vocal group The Family Dogg, scoring a UK Top 10 hit with "A Way of Life" in 1969. He is probably best known for his early 70s hits "It Never Rains In Southern California" and 'Free Electric Band' - but he went on to write countless hits for other artists such as Madonna and Leo Sayer. In 1987, Hammond's composition with Diane Warren "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (recorded by Jefferson Starship) was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy. In 1988, Hammond won an Emmy Award for the song "One Moment in Time", a song he wrote along with John Bettis. In 2008, Hammond was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He is immortalised in song by Half Man Half Biscuit in their 1986 track "Albert Hammond Bootleg".
His son, Albert Hammond, Jr., is a guitarist in The Strokes.
More info: www.alberthammond.net
Niño de palo
Albert Hammond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me has abierto la puerta a tus brazos
Despues... de sentir tus desprecios y oir
Que mi vida sería un fracaso.
Te has olvidado
Lo malo que hablaste de mi
Nunca pensaste que un dia
No soy un niño de palo
Bailando con hilos que puedes atar
Dejame solo que en mi ya no tienes lugar.
Yo no soy tu muñeco de trapo
Tu juego barato de viejo bazar.
Y ahora me muero de risa oyendote hablar.
Ya ves, como todo da vueltas y asi
Sin querer hoy te encuentras perdida, por mi.
Que fui siempre basura estas...
Demostrando amargura y herida.
Te has olvidado
Lo malo que hablaste de mi
Nunca pensaste que un dia
Conseguiria ser algo sin ti.
No soy un niño de palo
Bailando con hilos que puedes atar
Dejame solo que en mi ya no tienes lugar.
Yo no soy tu muñeco de trapo
Tu juego barato de viejo bazar.
Y ahora me muero de risa oyendote hablar.
Ya ves como todo da vueltas y hoy
Me has abierto la puerta.
No soy un niño de palo
Bailando con hilos que puedes atar
Dejame solo que en mi ya no tienes lugar.
Yo no soy tu muñeco de trapo
Tu juego barato de viejo bazar.
Y ahora me muero de risa oyendote hablar.
No soy un niño de palo
Bailando con hilos que puedes atar
Dejame solo que en mi ya no tienes lugar.
Yo no soy tu muñeco de trapo
Tu juego barato de viejo bazar.
Y ahora me muero de risa oyendote hablar.
In the song "Nino De Palo" by Albert Hammond, the singer is addressing someone who has treated him poorly in the past, possibly a former lover. He acknowledges that everything comes full circle and that the person who once rejected him is now opening their arms to him, however, he is unwilling to be a puppet or a plaything for them any longer. He asserts that he is not a wooden doll dancing on strings, and he no longer has a place in his life for this person. He remembers the hurtful words they spoke about him and how they believed he would never succeed without them. However, the tables have turned, and he has proven them wrong.
The chorus repeats the phrase, "No soy un nino de palo," which means "I am not a wooden boy." He refuses to be controlled or manipulated by this person, who called him trash and was bitter and hurtful towards him. Now, he is laughing at their words because he has succeeded without them.
Overall, "Nino De Palo" is a song about empowerment and growth. The singer has moved on from a toxic relationship and is now confident in his own abilities and worth. The metaphor of the wooden boy and the strings represents the idea of being controlled by someone else's expectations or desires, and the singer refuses to play that role any longer.
Line by Line Meaning
Ya ves, como todo da vueltas y hoy
Me has abierto la puerta a tus brazos
Despues... de sentir tus desprecios y oir
Que mi vida sería un fracaso.
Life is full of unexpected turnarounds and today, you have welcomed me into your arms, even after the times you looked down upon me and said that my life would be a failure.
Te has olvidado
Lo malo que hablaste de mi
Nunca pensaste que un dia
Conseguiria ser algo sin ti.
You seem to have forgotten the bad words you spoke about me and never even gave a thought to the fact that one day, I would become something without your help.
No soy un niño de palo
Bailando con hilos que puedes atar
Dejame solo que en mi ya no tienes lugar.
Yo no soy tu muñeco de trapo
Tu juego barato de viejo bazar.
I am not a puppet that you can control and manipulate with ease. Please leave me alone because I have outgrown the space you have for me. I am not a cheap toy you can find in an old market.
Y ahora me muero de risa oyendote hablar.
Now, I cannot help but laugh when I listen to the things you say.
Ya ves, como todo da vueltas y asi
Sin querer hoy te encuentras perdida, por mi.
Que fui siempre basura estas...
Demostrando amargura y herida.
Life indeed takes unexpected turns and today, without intending to, you find yourself lost because of me. You have always belittled me, showing your bitterness and hurt.
No soy un niño de palo
Bailando con hilos que puedes atar
Dejame solo que en mi ya no tienes lugar.
Yo no soy tu muñeco de trapo
Tu juego barato de viejo bazar.
Y ahora me muero de risa oyendote hablar.
Ya ves como todo da vueltas y hoy
Me has abierto la puerta.
I am not a puppet that dances to your tunes. Please let me be, as there is no space left for you in my life. I am not a cheap toy from a flea market. And now, I laugh at you, as everything has turned around, and today, you have opened your doors to me.
No soy un niño de palo
Bailando con hilos que puedes atar
Dejame solo que en mi ya no tienes lugar.
Yo no soy tu muñeco de trapo
Tu juego barato de viejo bazar.
Y ahora me muero de risa oyendote hablar.
I am not a puppet that dances to your tunes. Please let me be, as there is no space left for you in my life. I am not a cheap toy from a flea market. And now, I laugh at you, as everything has turned around, and today, you have opened your doors to me.
Writer(s): Albert Louis Hammond, Oscar Gomez
Contributed by Adrian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.