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.
Bragg Jack
Mano Negra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'te préviens gars, j't'aurais prévenu
Si t'y crois pas tant pis pour toi
Si t'y crois pas tu t'en mordras les doigts
Ecoute un peu ce que j'ai à te dire!
C'est un bon coup banco gros lot
Genre big magot pour changer d'air
Des pépites grosses comme des pavés
T'as rien à faire juste à te baisser
Un jeu d'enfant et bien raqué
Une fois refourgué, moitié moitié!
6 mois au vert et c'est gagné
Riches comme crésus et pleins aux as
Le grand standing et vive les palaces
Allez tope la et compte sur moi
Everything you say (is a)
Dirty lie (but we)
So proud of you
BRAGG JACK
Get back to the right track
Sit buck ahut up your big trap
Don't talk back stop that crap
Take a breack to ease my heartache
J'connais Lio, Elli & Jacno
Michael Jackson et Battiston
Maintenant j'fais dans l'rock francais
J'suis bien forcé, y'a qu'ca qui plait
A maneval et à Sabatier
ca c'est des mecs à respecter
Des mecs bien mecs bien mecs bien branchés
J'les connais bien j'leur parlerai de toi
T'inquiètes pas p'tit gars ce que tu fais là
ca me plait mais pourquoi que tu chantes en Anglais??
Ca veut dire quoi c'que tu dis là?
De l'est à l'ouest
Et du nord au sud
D'puerto Rico à Bornéo
Paris, Moscou, Casablanca
Tout ca j'connais j'l'ai fait mille fois
J'ai visité tous les pays
Leurs présidents sont mes amis
Là j'reviens des Etats-Unis
J'y ai même rencontré Sam Sheppard
Qui m'a offert la Jaguar
Que ce soir j'ai pas pu avoir!
The lyrics of Mano Negra's song "Bragg Jack" tell the story of a man named Bragg Jack who tries to convince the listener to follow him on a gold-digging adventure in Panama. The singer presents Bragg Jack's plan as foolproof and promises that they will become rich beyond their wildest dreams. Bragg Jack claims to have insider knowledge of a gold mine in Panama that is easy to access and guarantees great wealth. His plan is to spend six months there and then split the profits. The chorus suggests that everything Bragg Jack says is a dirty lie and that the listener should not believe him.
The second part of the song takes on a different tone as Bragg Jack talks about his connections in the music industry, name-dropping popular French musicians of the time. He claims to be well-connected with influential people and to have traveled extensively throughout the world, visiting all countries and befriending all presidents. He even mentions meeting Sam Sheppard, a famous American neurosurgeon, who gave him a Jaguar car as a gift. However, the chorus is repeated, implying that Bragg Jack's tall tales aren't to be believed. The song ends with Bragg Jack's disappointment at not being able to get the Jaguar car.
Overall, the lyrics of "Bragg Jack" can be interpreted as a cautionary tale warning listeners not to be taken in by charismatic and persuasive people who may not have their best interests in mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Pour une histoire, ca c'est une histoire
I've got a story to tell you
J'te préviens gars, j't'aurais prévenu
I'm warning you, you'll regret it if you don't believe me
Si t'y crois pas tant pis pour toi
If you don't believe me, that's your problem
Si t'y crois pas tu t'en mordras les doigts
If you don't believe me, you'll regret it
Ecoute un peu ce que j'ai à te dire!
Listen to what I have to say
C'est un bon coup banco gros lot
This is a great opportunity
Genre big magot pour changer d'air
Like a big jackpot to change your life
Une mine d'or en plein Paname
A gold mine right here in Panama
Des pépites grosses comme des pavés
Nuggets as big as paving stones
T'as rien à faire juste à te baisser
All you have to do is bend down to pick them up
Un jeu d'enfant et bien raqué
Easy money for the taking
Une fois refourgué, moitié moitié!
Once sold, we'll split the profits down the middle
6 mois au vert et c'est gagné
Just six months and we'll be rich
Riches comme crésus et pleins aux as
As rich as Croesus and loaded with cash
Le grand standing et vive les palaces
Living it up in luxury and lavish palaces
Allez tope la et compte sur moi
Come on, trust me and let's do this
Everything you say (is a)
Everything you say is a
Dirty lie (but we)
A dirty lie but we
So proud of you
Are so proud of you
BRAGG JACK
Proud Jack
Get back to the right track
Get back on track
Sit buck ahut up your big trap
Sit down, shut up, and stop talking
Don't talk back stop that crap
Don't talk back, stop behaving badly
Take a breack to ease my heartache
Take a break to ease my heartache
J'connais Lio, Elli & Jacno
I know Lio, Elli & Jacno
Michael Jackson et Battiston
Michael Jackson and Battiston
Maintenant j'fais dans l'rock francais
Now I'm into French rock
J'suis bien forcé, y'a qu'ca qui plait
I'm stuck with it, but it's what people like
A maneval et à Sabatier
At Maneval and Sabatier
ca c'est des mecs à respecter
Those are guys you have to respect
Des mecs bien mecs bien mecs bien branchés
Really cool guys
J'les connais bien j'leur parlerai de toi
I know them well, I'll mention you to them
T'inquiètes pas p'tit gars ce que tu fais là
Don't worry, kid, what you're doing is good
ca me plait mais pourquoi que tu chantes en Anglais??
I like it, but why are you singing in English?
Ca veut dire quoi c'que tu dis là?
What does what you're saying mean?
De l'est à l'ouest
From east to west
Et du nord au sud
And from north to south
D'puerto Rico à Bornéo
From Puerto Rico to Borneo
Paris, Moscou, Casablanca
Paris, Moscow, Casablanca
Tout ca j'connais j'l'ai fait mille fois
I know all of that, I've done it a thousand times
J'ai visité tous les pays
I've visited every country
Leurs présidents sont mes amis
Their presidents are my friends
Là j'reviens des Etats-Unis
I just got back from the United States
J'y ai même rencontré Sam Sheppard
I even met Sam Sheppard there
Qui m'a offert la Jaguar
Who gave me a Jaguar
Que ce soir j'ai pas pu avoir!
Which unfortunately I couldn't get tonight!
Contributed by Chase I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sick Boy
une que je connaissais pas, et qui est super ! Vive la Mano Negra !
Narutoz z
c c... c trop super co0l
Basile DE KOCH
"Vieux moisi" !
PTIRAFIX
maître gimms c mieux
Yam Durand
Oh mon dieu