They released many popular albums that have crossed over to gain mainstream success outside the flamenco area. Their music can best be described as a mix between flamenco and mainstream pop. The band broke up in 2004 with the release of their final album 20 pa' Ketama after a twenty year career.
Their final lineup was Antonio Carmona (Vocals) José Miguel Carmona, Juan Carmona.
Suave
Ketama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Polvo, sol, fátiga y hambre
Hambre de paz y horizontes
Hambre.
Bajo la piel resecada
Ríos sólidos de sangre
Y el corazón asfixiado
Sin venas para aliviarte
Ciegos de tanto mirarte
Sin verte Asturias lejana
Hija de mi misma madre
Dos veces, dos ha tenido
Ocasión para jugarte
La vida en una partida
Y las dos te la jugaste
Quién derribará ese árbol
De Asturias ya sin ramaje
Desnudo, seco, clavado
Con su raíz entrañable
Corre por toda España
Crispandonos de coraje
Mirad obreros del mundo
Su silueta recortarse
Contra ese cielo impasible
Vertical inquebrantable
Firme sobre roca firme
Herida, vibra su carne
Millones de puños gritan
Su cólera por los aires
Millones de corazones
Golpean contra tus cárceles
Prepara tu salto último
Líbida muerte cobarde
Prepara tu último salto
Que Asturias está aguardandote
Sola en mitad de la Tierra
Hija de mi misma madre
Sola en mitad de la Tierra
Hija de mi misma madre
Sola en mitad de la Tierra
Hija de mi misma madre
Sola en mitad de la Tierra.
Ketama's song Suave is a powerful commentary on the hardship and struggle faced by many people in the southern region of Spain, particularly in the province of Andalusia. The opening line, "Yo soy un hombre del sur" or "I am a man of the south," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the lyrics describe the difficulties of life in this region, including poverty, hunger, and a lack of opportunities. The song speaks of a deep-seated longing for peace and a better life, a desire for horizons that are beyond reach.
Throughout the song, the imagery used by Ketama is vivid and often visceral, conveying the physical and emotional toll of living in such harsh conditions. The "polvo, sol, fátiga y hambre" or "dust, sun, fatigue and hunger" weigh heavily on the singer, who describes rivers of blood flowing beneath his skin and a heart that feels suffocated. The mention of Asturias, a region in the north of Spain, adds another layer of complexity to the song, highlighting the regional divides that exist within the country and the sense of exile or displacement that the singer feels.
The final verses of the song turn to a more hopeful message, rallying the working class across Spain to stand up against oppression and fight for their rights. The lyrics urge workers to look to the example of Asturias, where resistance and rebellion have a long and storied history. The repetition of "sola en mitad de la Tierra, hija de mi misma madre" or "alone in the middle of the earth, daughter of my own mother" emphasizes the message of unity and solidarity, reminding listeners that despite their differences, they are all connected by their shared struggles and their common humanity.
Overall, Suave is a poignant and powerful song that speaks to the struggles of life in southern Spain and the need for collective action to create change. It is a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo soy un hombre del sur
I am a man from the south
Polvo, sol, fátiga y hambre
Dust, sun, tiredness and hunger
Hambre de paz y horizontes
Hunger for peace and horizons
Hambre.
Hunger.
Bajo la piel resecada
Under the dry skin
Ríos sólidos de sangre
Solid rivers of blood
Y el corazón asfixiado
And the suffocated heart
Sin venas para aliviarte
Without veins to relieve you
Los ojos, ciegos los ojos
The eyes, blind eyes
Ciegos de tanto mirarte
Blind from looking at you so much
Sin verte Asturias lejana
Without seeing you, distant Asturias
Hija de mi misma madre
Daughter of my own mother
Dos veces, dos ha tenido
Twice, it had two
Ocasión para jugarte
The opportunity to play you
La vida en una partida
Life in a gamble
Y las dos te la jugaste
And both times you played it
Quién derribará ese árbol
Who will bring down that tree
De Asturias ya sin ramaje
Of Asturias now without branches
Desnudo, seco, clavado
Naked, dry, nailed
Con su raíz entrañable
With its endearing root
Corre por toda España
Runs through all of Spain
Crispandonos de coraje
Filling us with courage
Mirad obreros del mundo
Look, workers of the world
Su silueta recortarse
Its silhouette cutting
Contra ese cielo impasible
Against that impassive sky
Vertical inquebrantable
Upright and unbreakable
Firme sobre roca firme
Firm on solid rock
Herida, vibra su carne
Injured, its flesh vibrates
Millones de puños gritan
Millions of fists shout
Su cólera por los aires
Their anger in the air
Millones de corazones
Millions of hearts
Golpean contra tus cárceles
Beating against your prisons
Prepara tu salto último
Prepare for your final jump
Líbida muerte cobarde
Lively cowardly death
Prepara tu último salto
Prepare for your final jump
Que Asturias está aguardandote
Because Asturias is waiting for you
Sola en mitad de la Tierra
Alone in the middle of the Earth
Hija de mi misma madre
Daughter of my own mother
Sola en mitad de la Tierra
Alone in the middle of the Earth
Hija de mi misma madre
Daughter of my own mother
Sola en mitad de la Tierra
Alone in the middle of the Earth
Hija de mi misma madre
Daughter of my own mother
Sola en mitad de la Tierra.
Alone in the middle of the Earth.
Writer(s): antonio carmona, josé miguel carmona, juan carmona, ketama
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@albacerreduela3045
Eterno ketama!!!!
@rarethen9
temazo!! siempre voy a estar agradecido a mi padre que me hizo escuchar desde muy chico, entre otros artistas, a ketama!!
@MrHassf
que hermosa canción y buen grupo ketama no me canso de escucharlo
@sakurakimora8937
me gusta mucho esta cancion.... casi k no la encuentro
@carloscachichee
calidad . sentimiento y dulzura .ketama eres la melodía de mi vida