Andres Calamaro is one of the most popular Argentinian pop-rock songwriters… Read Full Bio ↴Andres Calamaro is one of the most popular Argentinian pop-rock songwriters. A songs craftsman, as he likes to consider himself.

Born Aug 22, 1961 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he began his professional musical career at the age of 17 playing keyboards in Raíces.
In 1981 he incorporated to one of the main bands of the Argentinean '80s rock scene: Los Abuelos de la Nada. Although the band was led by the brilliant Miguel Abuelo, Calamaro composed most of the band's hits, like "Mil Horas," "Así es el calor," "Sin gamulán" and "Costumbres Argentinas."

In 1984 he made his solo debut with Hotel Calamaro. The album was a bizarre mix of styles and musicians, and didn't gain public or press support.

In 1985 he left Los Abuelos de la Nada and registered his second album Vida Cruel. Inspite of the important musicians and guests, such as Luis Alberto Spinetta and Charly García, the album was a disappointment: both commercially and artistically. But if as a songwriter the luck was out of reach, he had an intense and successful work as a producer of bands like Los Enanitos Verdes, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and Don Cornelio y la zona. He also worked and collaborated with many artists of different styles and genres, a constant attitude through his whole career. The third album Por Mirarte showed Calamaro in a better shape with an established band. Released in 1988 it contains some outstanding songs such as "Con los dientes apretados" and "Me olvidé de los demás," while others like "Cartas sin Marcar" and "Loco por tí" helped the album to get popular.

When Calamaro released in 1989 Nadie Sale Vivo de Aquí, Argentina was living it's worst economical crisis: few albums were released. The album title suggest it all: Nobody comes out alive from here. The LP production was paralyzed, and the few that could make it were almost ignored. That was Calamaro's case. This situation lead the singer to settle in Spain, following a road taken by many Argentinean rockers. Out there in Spain he met Ariel Rot y Javier Infante, former members of Tequila. They formed Los Rodríguez in 1991, a pop-rock band that was very popular in Spain and Latin America: Calamaro's songs began to be popular like in the early '80s: the hit maker was on the road again. Curiously, from Spain, he was conquering Argentina. While being part of the band he didn't release any new solo material, just Grabaciones Encontradas 1 y 2, a couple of CDs that contained unreleased and rare material from the '80s.

After the split of Los Rodríguez, Calamaro returned to his solo career recording Alta Suciedad in 1997, an album produced by Joe Blaney. This album brought him the commercial success that seemed to fail in his previous solo efforts, and sold 300.000 copies just in Argentina. That is certainly a huge amount for the country's small market. No doubts, that album helped him to be placed between the star legends of the national rock scene. Before that album Calamaro was considered an important character, appreciated by other musicians, but not a main one. After he broke up with his spanish girlfriend he released in 1999 the double CD Honestidad Brutal. Recorded when he was 37, it contained 37 songs of despair, love loss, drugs and regret. It was not as successful at the previous album, but showed a new Calamaro: desperate, decadent and often elegant at the same time, with a new and raw lyrical approach. El Salmon followed in spring 2001.
Calamaro's next proyect, El Cantante, was released in 2005. A delicious mixture of tango, rock n'roll and flamenco guitars (mostly played by spanish prodigy El Niño Josele).
After a break, he returned to the stages with a tour full of classics that gave birth to a live album called El Regreso on 2005, recorded with members of Bersuit Vergarabat as a backing band. This album was very well received for the charts as well as for the critics, wich lead him to different awards. One year later, on 2006, Andres published a new album from the roots of tango with the collaboration of guitarrists Niño Josele and Juanjo Dominguez. On 2007 El palacio de las flores was published, although it was recorded on 2006. The album had the collaboration and musical influence of argentine composer Lito Nebbia and was also recorded on his studio. This was the return to a classic Calamaro album with new songs and hits.

Under My Thumb
Andrés Calamaro Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Under my thumb
The girl who once had me down.
Under my thumb
The girl who once pushed me around
Its down to me
The difference in the clothes she wears
Down to me, the change has come,
Shes under my thumb.

Aint it the truth babe?
Under my thumb
The squirmin dog whos just had her day.
Under my thumb
A girl who has just changed her ways
Its down to me, yes it is
The way she does just what shes told
Down to me, the change has come
Shes under my thumb
Ah, ah, say its alright.
Under my thumb
A siamese cat of a girl
Under my thumb
Shes the sweetest, hmmm, pet in the world
Its down to me
The way she talks when shes spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
Shes under my thumb
Ah, take it easy babe
Its down to me, oh yeah
The way she talks when shes spoken to
Down to me, the change has come,
Shes under my thumb.
Under my thumb
The girl who once had me down.
Under my thumb

The girl who once pushed me around
Its down to me

Overall Meaning

Andrés Calamaro's song Under My Thumb is about a man who takes control of a woman who once had power over him. The phrase "under my thumb" is a reference to someone who is completely under someone else's control. The first stanza sets the tone for the entire song as the man sings "The girl who once had me down, the girl who once pushed me around." He is describing a past relationship where he felt powerless, but after years have passed, he has reversed the roles and now has control over her.

The second stanza describes how the man has taken control of the woman's image. "Its down to me, the difference in the clothes she wears, down to me, the change has come, she's under my thumb" suggests that he is using his control to change how she looks and behaves. The third stanza is about the woman's obedience to the man. "Its down to me, the way she does just what she's told, down to me, the change has come, she's under my thumb." The man sees the change in her behavior as a result of his control.

The fourth stanza compares the woman to a Siamese cat, which suggests that she is dependent on the man for survival. He sees her as a possession, "the sweetest, hmmm, pet in the world." The final stanzas repeat the opening lyrics, suggesting that the man is happy with his newfound power over the woman. His insistence that "its down to me" reinforces the idea that he is now in control and that the woman is subordinate to him.

Line by Line Meaning

Under my thumb
I have control over someone or something; they are at my mercy.

The girl who once had me down.
This girl used to have the upper hand in our relationship or situation.

Under my thumb
I have complete dominance over this girl.

The girl who once pushed me around
This girl used to control or manipulate me.

Its down to me
It is my responsibility to control this girl's behavior now.

The difference in the clothes she wears
I control everything from her fashion choices to her behavior.

Down to me, the change has come, Shes under my thumb.
I have successfully asserted my dominance over this girl, and now she complies with everything I say.

Aint it the truth babe?
Isn't it obvious that I am in control?

Under my thumb
I have complete control over this girl, just like a master has control over their pet.

The squirmin dog whos just had her day.
This girl used to resist or rebel against my control, but now she has given up.

A girl who has just changed her ways
This girl used to act out, but now she complies with everything I say.

Its down to me, yes it is
I am solely responsible for this girl's positive change in behavior.

The way she does just what shes told
I control every aspect of this girl's life, even down to her actions.

Ah, ah, say its alright.
I am reassuring myself that everything is fine and under control.

Under my thumb
I have complete control over this girl, and she is now like a Siamese cat, subservient and loyal.

Shes the sweetest, hmmm, pet in the world
This girl is now a docile, devoted companion who obeys my every command.

The way she talks when shes spoken to
I have even instilled a certain tone of voice in this girl that she uses when speaking to me.

Ah, take it easy babe
Now that I have complete control over this girl, I am calming myself down and enjoying the fruits of my control.

Its down to me, oh yeah
I am reveling in my power and control over this girl.

The way she talks when shes spoken to
I have complete control over every aspect of this girl's behavior and communication.

Down to me, the change has come, Shes under my thumb.
I have succeeded in controlling this girl completely, and now she is completely under my control and does everything I say.

Under my thumb
Once again, I am emphasizing my complete control over this girl.

The girl who once had me down.
This girl used to have me under her control or manipulation, but now the tables have turned.

Under my thumb
I am reiterating my complete dominance over this girl.

The girl who once pushed me around
This girl used to control or manipulate me, but now I am in control.

Its down to me
Once again, I am asserting my responsibility for controlling this girl's behavior.

Contributed by Caden K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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