Gillan was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He joined the band Deep Purple in 1969. In 1970, he sang the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, he went into brief retirement before forming the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan reformed the lineup and shortened the groups name to Gillan. With the release of Mr. Universe Ian Gillan was back in the UK charts and through several more line up changes released a string of hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.
Then he announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath to record the Born Again album before rejoining a reunited Deep Purple shortly after completing the Born Again tour in early 1984. He left Purple again in 1989, but rejoined for good in 1992. He remains in the band today.
Gillan is now working on a project to document his 40-year career, tentatively called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, various members of Deep Purple and many others will be featured on this 2006 DVD project.
Angel Manchenio
Ian Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Angel Manchenio dance on the table
Bright casino lights flicker as you dance
Warm Arabian nights, atmospheres of chance
Oh my gypsy brother you tried to take my life
You thought I'd stolen your lover
Her red hair you'd seen on my bed
And now Manchenio you wanted me dead
But she was with another name
Gypsy hang your head in shame
Dance Angel Manchenio
Ancient gypsy lore gives your blood to me
I can let it pour, watch it running free
But I love you gypsy, your spirit chases me
Now I want to share
The blood of a Romany
You take your knife and cut my hand
Say mystic words I won't understand
Pulses race as two become
Blood united, brothers one
Dance Angel Manchenio
Say the words and we become
Blood united, brothers one
The lyrics of Ian Gillan's song "Angel Manchenio" tell the story of a potentially deadly confrontation between two gypsy brothers. The singer of the song, who is addressed by Angel Manchenio, describes him as a dancer who climbs onto a table. The setting is a casino with bright lights, which creates an atmosphere of risk and excitement. The singer speaks of the ancient gypsy culture, which they share, but then also speaks of the danger that is inherent when living by the code of the Romany.
Angel Manchenio tries to take the life of the singer because he believes that he has stolen his lover. She has apparently been in the singer's bed and now exists under a different name. The confrontation is resolved when they become "blood united." Angel Manchenio cuts the singer's hand and speaks words of a mystical nature. Through this act, they are no longer enemies but "brothers one." This moment highlights the deep connection between the two of them, as they both recognize the heavy weight of their shared culture.
The lyrics of "Angel Manchenio" explore themes of cultural identity, conflict, and resolution. They describe the struggle between the need to preserve one's cultural identity and the dangers this poses, often leading to violence. However, in the end, the song suggests that there is a path towards resolution, where two opponents can become brothers, united through shared cultural experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Angel Manchenio dance on the table
You dance on the table under the bright casino lights, immersing yourself in the atmosphere of chance and excitement.
Warm Arabian nights, atmospheres of chance
The warm Arabian nights provide an atmospheric background for exciting and thrilling events.
Oh my gypsy brother you tried to take my life
You, my brother from the Gypsy community, attempted to take my life in a fit of anger and jealousy.
You thought I'd stolen your lover
You believed that I had taken away your lover, prompting your violent reaction towards me.
You faced me with a knife
You faced me menacingly, brandishing a knife with intent to harm.
Her red hair you'd seen on my bed
You had seen your lover's red hair on my bed, leading you to believe that I had been with her.
And now Manchenio you wanted me dead
As a reaction to your jealousy and anger, you now desired nothing but my death, which left me afraid and vulnerable.
But she was with another name
However, your lover was actually with someone else altogether and not with me, which makes your previous anger and jealousy unjustified.
Gypsy hang your head in shame
As a fellow Gypsy, you should have known better than to react so violently based on a false assumption, and therefore, should feel ashamed of your actions.
Ancient gypsy lore gives your blood to me
The ancient traditions of the Gypsy community dictate that your blood belongs to me in some way.
I can let it pour, watch it running free
I have the power to make your blood flow freely, but I choose not to take that action, and instead, I treasure it as a sign of brotherhood and unity.
But I love you gypsy, your spirit chases me
Despite the events that have just passed, I still hold a deep and abiding love for you as a fellow Gypsy, and your spirit continues to capture my heart.
Now I want to share the blood of a Romany
As a result of our reconciliation, I now want to combine our blood in a ceremony that signifies our union and brotherhood as fellow Gypsies.
You take your knife and cut my hand
You cut my hand with a knife as a symbol of our shared blood and brotherhood.
Say mystic words I won't understand
You recite mystical words that I cannot understand, but which add an air of spiritual significance to the ceremony.
Pulses race as two become
Our hearts beat faster and our excitement grows as the ceremony proceeds, united as fellow Gypsies.
Blood united, brothers one
As we complete the ceremony, our shared blood and union serve as a physical representation of our brotherhood, with a bond that can never be broken.
Dance Angel Manchenio
Continue to dance with joy and freedom, imbued with the emotional weight and significance of our shared ceremony.
Say the words and we become
Blood united, brothers one
The mystical words and ceremony have completed the process of bringing us together as brothers forevermore, sharing in the magic of our shared blood and history as Gypsies.
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.