The band was unable to secure a record deal in Mexico, as their music was considered to be insufficiently commercial, and ended up releasing their first album Latin Ska Force independently. However, in 1999 they secured a deal with David Byrne's Luaka Bop record label to release their international debut, Los de Abajo.
The follow-up Cybertropic Chilango Power was released in 2002 and won BBC Radio 3's World Music Award for the Americas. 2006's LDA v The Lunatics saw them continue to absorb influences from around the world and included a Spanish-language version of The Fun Boy Three song "The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum)", featuring Neville Staples.
The band are supporters of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation and have played benefits gigs for the revolutionary group. The Zapatistas' Comandante Esther features on "Resistencia", the first track on LDA v The Lunatics.
El Indio
Los de Abajo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
¡Venga compai!
¡Dígalo!
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
¿De dónde sale el indio gallón
Que tiene chispa?
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
Que tiene chispa?
La calle se moja
Con el hambre y el estrés
Y a todos nos toca
Contemplarla en su avidez
Por fiesta que
Se pierde en el murmullo del tiempo
Y fiesta que
Se guarda en la sonrisa del viejo
Y fiesta que
Agarra en la tristeza su velo
Y fiesta que
No muere aunque me quites cimiento
Venga esa risa ma'
Venga esa risa ma'
Una palomita
Me dijo con suavidad
Aquí nadie es dueño de nada
Nadie es dueño de nada no
Aquí la tierra esta librada
Librada de tanto robar
Por fiesta que
Se pierde en el murmullo del tiempo
Y fiesta que
Se guarda en la sonrisa del viejo
Y fiesta que
Agarra en la tristeza su velo
Y fiesta que
No muere aunque me quites cimiento
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
¿De dónde sale el indio gallón
Que tiene chispa?
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
¿De dónde sale el indio gallón
Que tiene chispa?
Venga esa risa ma'
Venga esa risa ma'
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
¿De dónde sale el indio gallón
Que tiene chispa?
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
¿De dónde sale el indio gallón
Que tiene chispa?
"El Indio" is a song by the Mexican band Los de Abajo that speaks about happiness and laughter amidst the struggle and poverty that people face every day. The song starts by calling for laughter and asks where the Indian with spark and fire comes from. The Indian, in this context, refers to someone who is full of life and laughter, despite the struggles they may face.
The song then speaks about how the street becomes wet with hunger and stress and how everyone has to see the struggle and the greed that comes with it. However, the song also speaks about how there are moments of joy and celebration that are lost in time and moments that are kept in the smiles of the elders. The song asserts that happiness can still exist amidst sadness and struggle.
The chorus calls for the laughter of the Indian with spark and fire to be heard as a symbol of hope and resilience amidst difficult times. The song ends with the reminder that nobody truly owns anything, and the earth is free from the theft that occurs in society.
Overall, "El Indio" is a celebration of life, happiness, and resilience in the face of poverty and struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
¡Eso!
Encouraging someone to keep going and do something well.
¡Venga compai!
Encouraging a friend to come forward and do something great.
¡Dígalo!
Encouraging someone to speak out and say what they want to say.
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
I want to see that laughter because it brings joy and happiness.
¿De dónde sale el indio gallón que tiene chispa?
Where does that charismatic and witty person come from?
La calle se moja con el hambre y el estrés
The streets become wet with hunger and stress.
Y a todos nos toca contemplarla en su avidez
And we all have to look at it in its greediness.
Por fiesta que se pierde en el murmullo del tiempo
For every celebration that fades away quietly into time.
Y fiesta que se guarda en la sonrisa del viejo
And for every celebration that is preserved in the smile of an old person.
Y fiesta que agarra en la tristeza su velo
And for every celebration that takes its veil in sadness.
Y fiesta que no muere aunque me quites cimiento
And for every celebration that does not die even if the foundation is taken away.
Una palomita me dijo con suavidad
A little bird told me softly.
Aquí nadie es dueño de nada
Here, no one owns anything.
Nadie es dueño de nada no
No one owns anything here.
Aquí la tierra está librada
Here, the land is free and open.
Librada de tanto robar
Free from so much stealing and taking advantage.
Venga esa risa ma'
Come on, that laughter over there.
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
I want to see that laughter because it brings joy and happiness.
¿De dónde sale el indio gallón que tiene chispa?
Where does that charismatic and witty person come from?
Venga esa risa ma'
Come on, that laughter over there.
Venga esa risa que yo quiero ver
I want to see that laughter because it brings joy and happiness.
¿De dónde sale el indio gallón que tiene chispa?
Where does that charismatic and witty person come from?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Liber Teran Gomez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind