She sang in public for the first time in a radio contest at the age of ten. She didn't win that year, but won the next year. Her early singing caught the attention of a movie producer who introduced her to the cinema audiences as "Ana Belen" in the movie "Zampo y Yo" when she was thirteen.
Ana didn't want to become a child-star and focused on her studying. It wasn't until she finished drama school that she went back performing in public, being theater her prefered way to do so. She did small incursions in movies till she was offered major parts.
In 1973 she was cast opposite Víctor Manuel in Morbo and he became her husband as well as the composer of the songs included in her first album. In 1982 she released "Ana en Rio", an album with Brazilian music that included the song "Balance" and became an instant hit.
In 1986, took one more step and became one of the first female movie directors in Spain with the movie "Cómo ser mujer y no morir en el intento" which earned her the Gold Medal of Spanish Cinematographic Academy. That year concluded with another major success, a tour with Victor Manuel and many special guests of which they released a live album: "Mucho mas que dos". The success of this tour lead to a new one, "El Gusto es Nuestro" with Miguel Rios, Joan Manuel Serrat y Victor Manuel.
She releases several albums through the 90's that achieve great success like "Veneno para el Corazon" that included Spanish versions of Cole Porter songs among others, "Mirame" full of duets with the most important Spanish voices or "Lorquiana", a double CD with popular songs and poems of Federico García Lorca.
The new century finds her busy with filming and recording songs. Albums "Peces de Ciudad" or "Viva L'Italia" are released as she appears on stage plays and her name is on some of the most acclaimed films of the moment.
In 2006, she is currently touring with her husband Víctor Manuel across Spain with "Una Cancion me Trajo Aqui", a CD+DVD has been released of their very first performance in Segovia.She also has a new album in the works and a new movie pending.
Un Marino Americano
Ana Belén Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hay que estrecharla en seguida
La mano que no se afloja
Hay que estrecharla en seguida
China, negra, blanca o roja
Con nuestra mano tendida
China, negra, blanca o roja
Un marino americano
En el restaurant del puerto
Me quiso dar con la mano
Pero allí se quedó muerto
China, negra, blanca o roja
Con nuestra mano tendida
Me quiso dar con la mano
Pero allí se quedó muerto
Un marino americano
En el restaurant del puerto
Me quiso dar con la mano
Pero allí se quedó muerto
Un marino americano
En el restaurant del puerto
Me quiso dar con la mano
Pero allí se quedó muerto
La mano que no se afloja
Hay que estrecharla en seguida
La mano que no se afloja
Hay que estrecharla en seguida
China, negra, blanca o roja
Con nuestra mano tendida
China, negra, blanca o roja
Con nuestra mano tendida
Un marino americano
En el restaurant del puerto
Me quiso dar con la mano
Pero allí se quedó muerto
China, negra, blanca o roja
Con nuestra mano tendida
Me quiso dar con la mano
Pero allí se quedó muerto
Un marino americano
En el restaurant del puerto
Me quiso dar con la mano
Pero allí se quedó muerto
Un marino americano
En el restaurant del puerto
Me quiso dar con la mano
Pero allí se quedó muerto
China, negra, blanca o roja
Con nuestra mano tendida
China, negra, blanca o roja
Con nuestra mano tendida
China, negra, blanca o roja
Con nuestra mano tendida
The song "Un Marino Americano" by Ana Belén is a ballad that emphasizes the importance of extending a hand of friendship to people from all walks of life. The repeated refrain of "La mano que no se afloja/Hay que estrecharla en seguida" (The hand that does not loosen/We must shake it right away) emphasizes the need for unity and brotherhood among people, regardless of their race, skin color or nationality. The song tells the tragic story of a sailor who attempted to extend his hand in friendship but was killed for it. The song is a reminder that in a world that is growing increasingly intolerant and divided, we need to be brave and extend our hands in friendship and love even when the world around us is hostile.
The song's message is universal, and the use of the sailor's story to drive the point home is effective. The song is an invitation to dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and respect for each other's cultures and traditions. Through the lyrics, Belén is encouraging people to break down the walls of prejudice and discrimination that separate us and embrace each other's differences. She is urging people to show kindness, love, and empathy to their fellow human beings, even in the face of danger or hostility.
Line by Line Meaning
La mano que no se afloja
We should grasp the hand that remains firm without letting go
Hay que estrecharla en seguida
We must embrace it immediately
China, negra, blanca o roja
No matter if they are Chinese, black, white or red
Con nuestra mano tendida
With our hand extended
Un marino americano
An American sailor
En el restaurant del puerto
In the restaurant at the port
Me quiso dar con la mano
He tried to shake my hand
Pero allí se quedó muerto
But he died there
China, negra, blanca o roja
No matter if they are Chinese, black, white or red
Con nuestra mano tendida
With our hand extended
Me quiso dar con la mano
He tried to shake my hand
Pero allí se quedó muerto
But he died there
Un marino americano
An American sailor
En el restaurant del puerto
In the restaurant at the port
Me quiso dar con la mano
He tried to shake my hand
Pero allí se quedó muerto
But he died there
La mano que no se afloja
We should grasp the hand that remains firm without letting go
Hay que estrecharla en seguida
We must embrace it immediately
China, negra, blanca o roja
No matter if they are Chinese, black, white or red
Con nuestra mano tendida
With our hand extended
China, negra, blanca o roja
No matter if they are Chinese, black, white or red
Con nuestra mano tendida
With our hand extended
China, negra, blanca o roja
No matter if they are Chinese, black, white or red
Con nuestra mano tendida
With our hand extended
Writer(s): Batista Nicolas Guillen, Nicolás Guillén, Sergio Pablo Aschero
Contributed by Violet Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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