Pau Donés, born and raised in Barcelona, worked for various groups before being able to take on his current project, Jarabe de Palo. He began at age 15 with his brother Marc, with whom he formed a group known as J.& Co.Band and later another one named Dentaduras Postizas. During this period, he completed his musical tracks in Barcelona with a job at an advertising firm.
His greatest success came to him after a trip to Cuba, where he was inspired to write La Flaca which became the title of his first album, "La Flaca," in 1996. A year later came the big surprise: millions of albums were sold around the world, and "La Flaca" became the song of the summer in 1997.
After this great success on his first album, Pau was determined to show that the band would not be a one-hit wonder, and with this idea, he launched Depende (1998), which was produced by Joe Dworniak in Moody Studios in London over two months. This album featured collaborations with the likes of Ketama and continued with Jarabe de Palo's ironic and ingenious lyrics, which managed to connect with the Hispanic public and even made inroads among Italians.
In 2001 they released De vuelta y vuelta, their most conceptual album. It showed a change in the band with the first music video of the album, in which Pau appears shaving his head, shedding his long-haired features. This album featured collaborations with the likes of Antonio Vega, Jovanotti, Vico C, and Celia Cruz.
In 2003 the band tried to show a change to more positive songs with their album Bonito, which featured the likes of Los Mártires del Compás, the singer-songwriter Elena Andujar, and their Italian friend, Jovanotti.
In the autumn of 2004, the band announced that they would go on tour with their new album, 1 m2 (Un metro cuadrado (A Square Meter)) featuring the likes of Jorge Drexler, Lucrecia, and Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders).
The group has received great awards such as Premios de la Música, Premio Ondas, and Grammy nominations. They have collaborated with La Vieja Trova Santiaguera, Antonio Vega, Vico C and Celia Cruz (soundtrack of El milagro de P. Tinto). Pau has also composed tracks for Ricky Martin and starred in a music video with Alanis Morissette.
On 9 June 2020, Donés died near Barcelona after five years of dealing with colon cancer, causing the band to split up shortly after.
Toca Mi Cancion
Jarabe de Palo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Que un día bailé con mi nena
Llena ese vaso de ron
Que la garganta me quema
Rómpeme el corazón
Porque aunque beba no hay borrachera que ahogue mi pena
Música, humo y alcohol
Dónde esta la camarera
Se tambalea y maldice la sangre que corre en sus venas
Pidió una explicación
Un no halló por respuesta
Luces y risas y el viejo que grita que un día de estos se quita la vida
Y el día que muera ponedme una vela, ya nadie en la casa a cenar le espera
Ya terminó la canción
Se mataría por verla
Que la garganta me quema
Rómpeme el corazón
Porque aunque beba no hay borrachera que ahogue mi pena
Música, humo y alcohol
Versos que apenas recuerda
Ya nadie en la casa a cenar le espera
Luces y risas y el viejo que grita que un día de estos se quita la vida
Y el día que muera ponedme una vela
The song "Toca Mi Canción" by Jarabe de Palo has a poignant and melancholic tone. The singer speaks about his pain and yearning to hear an old song that he once danced to with his beloved. He asks for a glass of rum to soothe his burning throat, hoping it will also numb his pain. The lyrics suggest that the singer is haunted by his memories of the past and seeks solace in the familiar tune.
The song paints a picture of a bar or nightclub where people gather to forget their troubles. The atmosphere is filled with music, smoke, and alcohol, and everyone seems to be under its spell. The singer reminisces, confessing that the verses of the song he once danced to are now a blur in his mind. As the night wears on, the singer sees a waitress who is stumbling and venting her frustrations. She asks for an explanation but receives no response.
The lyrics are full of nuances and emotions; they speak of regrets and failed relationships. The imagery created by the words is vivid and visceral, capturing the essence of the singer's sorrow. The song tells a story of a man who is consumed by his memories, and who tries to find a way to ease his pain. It is a poignant song that leaves its listeners with an impression of sadness and nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
Toca esa vieja canción
Play that old song
Que un día bailé con mi nena
That I danced one day with my girl
Llena ese vaso de ron
Fill my glass with rum
Que la garganta me quema
My throat burns
Rómpeme el corazón
Break my heart
Porque aunque beba no hay borrachera que ahogue mi pena
Because even if I drink, no drunkenness can drown my sorrow
Música, humo y alcohol
Music, smoke, and alcohol
Versos que apenas recuerda
Verses that I barely remember
Dónde esta la camarera
Where is the waitress
Se tambalea y maldice la sangre que corre en sus venas
She staggers and curses the blood that runs through her veins
Pidió una explicación
She asked for an explanation
Un no halló por respuesta
But found no answer
Luces y risas y el viejo que grita que un día de estos se quita la vida
Lights and laughter and the old man shouting that one of these days he will kill himself
Y el día que muera ponedme una vela
And the day he dies, light a candle for me
Ya nadie en la casa a cenar le espera
Nobody is waiting for him to come home for dinner anymore
Ya terminó la canción
The song is over
Se mataría por verla
He would kill to see her again
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Pau Dones Cirera
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@josevicente9327
Toca Mi Cancion
Jarabe de Palo
Toca esa vieja cancion
que un dia baile con mi nena
llena ese vaso de ron
que la garganta me quema
Rompeme el corazon
por que aunque beba no hay borrachera que ahogue mi pena
musica, humo y alcohol,
versos que apenas recuerda
Donde esta la camarera
se tambalea y maldice la sangre que corre en sus venas
pido una explicacion
un "no" hallo por respuesta
Luces y risas y el viejo que grita
que un dia de estos se quita la vida
y el dia que muera ponedme una vela
ya nadie en la casa a cenar le espera
Ya termino la cancion
se mataria por verla
Ya nadie en la casa a cenar le espera...
@jdultra9209
Descansa en paz Pau 😥😥
Nunca olvidaré los momentos vividos escuchando tu música.
🥃🥃
@fernandocanadas2832
Una de tantas!! Gracias por cada letra y cada momento. Descansa en paz... Nosotros te querremos siempre
@juchoandkurt
Esta canción estará marcada a fuego para siempre!!!! Eterno pao dones
@frankmix2159
Simplemente gracias por tanto!!!! Sigue cantando desde el cielo Pau!!!!
@AlvaroMartinez-yx5zk
Esta cancion sonaba siempre el ultimo dia de campamento , en Piedralaves. Marcada a fuego y lloros de todos por la despedida. 20 años despues, esta cancion sigue siendo la joya de la corona de Jarabe de Palo
@superviviente1017
Gracias a temas como este Pau será inmortal para siempre a través de su música. Solo nos queda darte las gracias y desearte suerte en el otro lado.
@bassat02
Se nos fue uno de los grandes del rock en español, vuela alto hermano. ¡Maldito cancer!
@ivanplaza8252
No fui un gran seguidor tuyo. Pero sé que se va uno de los grandes. Grandes canciones, grandes letras, grandes arreglos, gran amor por la profesión (al fin y al cabo...)... Gracias eternas por tu (vuestro) trabajo!!! Hasta luego.
@inticotacachi7653
No se muere quien se va solo se muere quien se olvida.. vuela alto campeón.. tus músicas me ayudaron a seguir siempre adelante gracias por todo hermano
@coralvargas1901
Pasan los años y me sigue emocionando como la primera vez!!!