The band was formed from the fusion of 2 smallers bands, the Hot Pants and the Casse-pieds.
Mano Negra mixed a number of styles: straight rock (with a lead guitar), latin music (with a brass section), punk (influenced by The Clash). Their songs often mixed French, Spanish and English lyrics.
Frontman Manu Chao later reappeared as as the lead in Radio Bemba Sound System to record their eponymous 2002 live album. He has also released four solo albums, Clandestino and Proxima Estacion: Esperanza in 1998 and 2002,Siberie M'Etait Conteee in 2005 and La Radiolina in 2007.
Former band member Tom Darnal was one of the founders of the band P18
About name
La Mano Negra ("The Black Hand") was a supposed anarchist organization in Andalucía, Spain, accused of many terrorist acts. Although, in latter studies, its existence was found unlikely and was probably an excuse used by the government under Sagasta to oppress anarchist activity in southern Spain.
Bala Perdida
Mano Negra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bala perdida bam! Por el avenida!
Soy una Bala Perdida tumbala Bala Perdida
Sangre guajira
Carga explosiva
Por el avenida
Hirviendo noche y dia
Por el avenida me disparo la vida!!
GET TO THE TOP AND DON'T STOP TO ROCK
El que a hierro mata! a hierro termina!!
Ram dam, piden pan, no le dan, cuando piden
Libertad
Libertad
Libertad
El que a hierro mata! a hierro termina!!
The lyrics of Mano Negra's "Bala Perdida" talk about a lost bullet that's tumbling through the streets. The opening lines suggest that the lost bullet has tumbled and hit something significant, which is evident when it's said: "Bala perdida tumba la Bala Perdida/Bala perdida bam! Por el avenida!" The repetition of the missing bullet suggests that it's a symbolic expression of something that is being sought, but has been lost or missed.
The song goes on to depict a life lived on the edge, characterized by "sangre guajira" (rural blood) and "carga explosiva" (explosive cargo). The song seems to suggest that the singer is living a life that's dangerous, with an emphasis on the night and day that they are on the streets, living dangerously. In the line "Por el avenida me disparo la vida!!" it's like the singer is shooting himself through his decision to live life on the edge.
The chorus of the song reiterates that the singer is a 'lost bullet' - "Soy una Bala Perdida tumbala Bala Perdida" - a person aimless and wandering, trying to find direction. The song ends with the lines "Ram dam, piden pan, no le dan, cuando piden, Libertad", where the singer yearns for freedom but is denied it, and the statement "El que a hierro mata! a hierro termina!!" which translates to 'He who kills dies by the sword' suggesting that the singer lives and dies by his own rules.
Line by Line Meaning
Bala perdida tumba la Bala Perdida
A stray bullet kills the stray bullet itself
Bala perdida bam! Por el avenida!
Stray bullet, bang! Down the avenue!
Soy una Bala Perdida tumbala Bala Perdida
I am a stray bullet, take down the stray bullet
Sangre guajira
Rural blood
Carga explosiva
Explosive load
Por el avenida
Down the avenue
Hirviendo noche y dia
Boiling night and day
Por el avenida me disparo la vida!!
Down the avenue, I shoot my life!!
GET TO THE TOP AND DON'T STOP TO ROCK
Get to the top and keep rocking
El que a hierro mata! a hierro termina!!
He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword!!
Ram dam, piden pan, no le dan, cuando piden
Ram dam, they ask for bread, they are not given when they ask
Libertad
Freedom
Libertad
Freedom
Libertad
Freedom
El que a hierro mata! a hierro termina!!
He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword!!
Contributed by Oliver O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@juangoya7874
Terrible no hay desperdicio este álbum es para disfrutar
@jahigh76
get to the top and don´t stop to rock!!!!! powwwwww
@crizin11
vc fez uma geração inteira mudar e eu tenho obrigação de seguir isso
@rebecacastillo7501
Por la avenida me disparó la vida 🖤
@brendaruiz3624
❤
@annakowalkowski4046
❤😀
@fabianlosano6747
Bala perdida, bala perdida por la avenida. El que a hierro mata a hierro termina
..
@sevillaland7940
"Entre Lo dicho y lo Hecho, EL CAMINO es Derecho... El que a hierro mata a hierro termina ..Y al Gringo se la voy a volar"
@MultiMoctezuma
🎵🫶🏼🎵🫶🏼🎵
@polvocosmico9451
Fidel Nadal!🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷