In 1992, the band became a finalist in the "Villa de Madrid" contest. They achieved great success in their country, and became Revelation Rock band in various media in 1995. In 1996 the current line-up was established. They have released several albums since their debut: Mägo de Oz (1994), Jesús de Chamberí (1996), La Bruja (1997 reedition), La Leyenda de la Mancha (1998), Finisterra (2000), Fölktergeist (Live, 2002), A Costa da Rock (DVD, 2003), Gaia (2003), Belfast (2004), Madrid Las Ventas (Live, 2005), Gaia II - La Voz Dormida (2005), The Best Oz (2006), La ciudad de los arboles (2007), Barakaldo D.F. (DVD, 2008), Gaia III: Atlantia (2010), Gaia: Epílogo (2010).
There's also a book by the drummer Txus Di Fellatio: El Cementerio de los Versos Perdidos (2006).
La Conquista
Mägo de Oz Lyrics
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Levantando al dios del mar
Mientras bostezaba el sol
El horizonte se desveló
Desnudábanse con aire sensual
La costa y el litoral
Dejando caer la niebla a sus pies
Y al pisar tierra firme vi llegar
A unas gentes que al ver
Nuestro ropaje no sabían que hacer
Hemos venido a cambiar
Vuestros sueños por la fe
Vuestro oro por tener
A un dios y un rey a quien seguir
Guerra, muerte, destrucción
Nuestro himno ¡qué valor!
Al soldado y al señor
La conquista les excito
Y aunque nunca quise ser como él
Pediré que nunca más
Se conquiste a otro pueblo jamás
Quiero pedir perdón
Y conquistar tu corazón
Quiero pedir perdón
En una batalla, las primeras bajas
Son la justicia y el amor
Y a ti te hablo hoy
Cuida y ama tu tradición
Hoy quiero tu perdón
Si tu tierra amas, no dejes por nada
De cuidarla por favor
The lyrics of Mägo de Oz's song La Conquista describe the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and their conquest of the native peoples of Latin America. The song starts with the awakening of the wind and the god of the sea, as the sun rises and the horizon is revealed. The sensual coast and shoreline are described, as the fog falls at their feet and the garden of Eden is seemingly glimpsed. However, the arrival of the Spanish is portrayed as a destructive force, as they come to change the native people's dreams for the faith, and take their gold in exchange for the rule of a god and king they've never heard of.
The subsequent lyrics emphasize the violence and destruction of the conquistadors, as their hymn is sung to the death of many. Yet, the singer regrets the conquest and asks for forgiveness, as he speaks to his audience directly, asking them to care for their traditions and love their land. The song is a powerful critique of the colonialist mindset, the destruction it brought, and the praise that was often associated with it.
Line by Line Meaning
El viento se despertó
The wind awakened
Levantando al dios del mar
Lifting up the god of the sea
Mientras bostezaba el sol
As the sun was yawning
El horizonte se desveló
The horizon revealed itself
Desnudábanse con aire sensual
They undressed sensually
La costa y el litoral
The coast and the shore
Dejando caer la niebla a sus pies
Leaving the fog to fall at their feet
Creí ver el jardín del edén
I thought I saw the garden of Eden
Y al pisar tierra firme vi llegar
And when I stepped on solid ground I saw
A unas gentes que al ver
Some people who upon seeing
Nuestro ropaje no sabían que hacer
Didn't know what to do with our clothing
Hemos venido a cambiar
We have come to change
Vuestros sueños por la fe
Your dreams for faith
Vuestro oro por tener
Your gold for having
A un dios y un rey a quien seguir
A god and a king to follow
Guerra, muerte, destrucción
War, death, destruction
Nuestro himno ¡qué valor!
Our hymn, how courageous!
Al soldado y al señor
To the soldier and the lord
La conquista les excito
The conquest excited them
Y aunque nunca quise ser como él
And though I never wanted to be like him
Pediré que nunca más
I will ask that never again
Se conquiste a otro pueblo jamás
Another people will be conquered
Quiero pedir perdón
I want to ask for forgiveness
Y conquistar tu corazón
And conquer your heart
En una batalla, las primeras bajas
In a battle, the first casualties
Son la justicia y el amor
Are justice and love
Y a ti te hablo hoy
And I speak to you today
Cuida y ama tu tradición
Take care of and love your tradition
Hoy quiero tu perdón
Today I want your forgiveness
Si tu tierra amas, no dejes por nada
If you love your land, don't let anything
De cuidarla por favor
Keep you from taking care of it, please
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Sergio Cisneros Anguita, Francisco Javier Gomez De La Serna Alvarino, Jesus Maria Hernandez Gil, Juan Carlos Marin Lopez, Jose Mario Martinez Arroyo Gonzalez, Sergio Martinez Rubio, Fernando Ponce De Leon Abellan, Carlos Prieto Guijarro
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