His musical creations and his concerts mix an infantile, controversial, provocative and condemnatory tone, which makes it very difficult to classify within any established musical type. Pla has also collaborated in film productions such as “Airbag”, directed by Juanma Bajo Ulloa; Isabel Coixet’s “A los que aman” (To Those Who Love); and “Honor de cavalleria” (Honour of Chivalry) by Albert Serra. He also played a prominent role in Helmut Krausser’s play “Caracuero” (Leatherface) in over 150 performances.
Maldita ciudad
Albert Pla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya pasa poca gente por las calles
Todos duermen, malditos, descansan,
Y esta noche nunca acaba.
Todo parece tranquilo y en paz
Las penas diarias fueron arrojadas
Como la ropa vieja y usada
Sólo yo voy sin rumbo en la calle
Piso la ciudad, la insulto y la escupo,
Pero ése saber que nadie te espera
La hace enemiga a la calle desierta
Y hace tan siniestra esa calle poblada
Por eso mis pies, por eso mis pies
Por eso mis pies pisan tu espalda
Maldita ciudad, maldita ciudad
Maldita ciudad, maldita ciudad.
Sólo yo voy sin rumbo en la calle,
Pero los bares ya ni me saludan,
Las ventanas me cierran sus ojos.
Miro la cartelera del cine
No echan nada esta noche
Esta noche nunca acaba.
Ojalá que llegara
El fin del mundo esta noche
Y esta noche no acaba, nunca acaba
Maldita ciudad, maldita ciudad
Maldita ciudad, maldita ciudad
Seba_eukz
The lyrics of Albert Pla's song "Maldita Ciudad" convey a feeling of frustration, exhaustion, and loneliness in the context of a city that never sleeps. The song starts with the repetition of the phrase "nunca acaba esta noche" ("this night never ends"), which sets the tone for the whole song. The singer observes that there are few people in the streets at this time of night and that everyone else is sleeping peacefully except for him. He feels like he is wandering aimlessly without a purpose while he insults and spits on the city.
Despite the apparent tranquility of the city, the singer feels like the deserted streets are his enemy. He can't shake off the feeling that no one is waiting for him, which makes him resentful towards the city itself. He declares that he treads on the city with his feet, and this suggests a sense of domination or control over his surroundings. However, this dominance is only an illusion as he is the only person around, and he is all alone in the deserted streets.
The singer goes on to describe how he is ignored by the bars and the people in the city. He also looks at the cinema billboard but finds nothing of interest. He wishes the world would end this night so that it would finally come to an end. The song ends with a repetition of the phrase "maldita ciudad" ("damn city"), indicating that the whole experience has left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Line by Line Meaning
Nunca acaba esta noche, nunca acaba
This night never ends and it feels like it will never end
Ya pasa poca gente por las calles
Very few people are walking around the streets
Todos duermen, malditos, descansan,
Everyone is sleeping and resting
Y esta noche nunca acaba.
And this night seems like it will never end
Todo parece tranquilo y en paz
Everything seems calm and peaceful
Las penas diarias fueron arrojadas
Daily sorrows and worries were thrown away
Como la ropa vieja y usada
Like old and used clothes
Y esta noche nunca acaba.
And this night seems like it will never end
Sólo yo voy sin rumbo en la calle
I am walking aimlessly on the street alone
Piso la ciudad, la insulto y la escupo,
I step on the city, insult it and spit on it
Pero ése saber que nadie te espera
But knowing that nobody is waiting for you
La hace enemiga a la calle desierta
Makes the deserted streets an enemy
Y hace tan siniestra esa calle poblada
And makes the crowded street so sinister
Por eso mis pies, por eso mis pies
That's why my feet, that's why my feet
Por eso mis pies pisan tu espalda
That's why my feet step on your back
Maldita ciudad, maldita ciudad
Cursed city, cursed city
Maldita ciudad, maldita ciudad.
Cursed city, cursed city.
Pero los bares ya ni me saludan,
But even the bars don't greet me anymore
Las ventanas me cierran sus ojos.
The windows close their eyes to me
Miro la cartelera del cine
I look at the movie poster
No echan nada esta noche
There is nothing showing tonight
Esta noche nunca acaba.
This night seems like it will never end
Ojalá que llegara
I wish that
El fin del mundo esta noche
The end of the world would come tonight
Y esta noche no acaba, nunca acaba
And this night won't end, it never ends
Maldita ciudad, maldita ciudad
Cursed city, cursed city
Maldita ciudad, maldita ciudad
Cursed city, cursed city
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.