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.
El sur
Mano Negra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Contra el destino yo luchare
Que no lo aguanta mi cuerpo
Lo frío de un mundo sin volverte a ver
Y como un pajaro muerto
Volando me iré para el infierno
Donde viven desconsolados
Les que de ti se han alejao'
Y llorale al pajaro muerto
El que yo nunca seré
The lyrics of Mano Negra's song "El Sur" are full of sorrow and desperation. The singer talks about the possibility of losing someone they love, and how they will fight against destiny to keep that person in their life. The line "que no lo aguanta mi cuerpo" (my body can't handle it) suggests that the prospect of losing this person is physically and mentally unbearable for the singer. They then compare themselves to a dead bird, flying towards hell, where they will join others who have been separated from their loved ones.
The last stanza is particularly poignant, as the singer mourns the loss of this relationship and acknowledges that they will never be like the dead bird they compare themselves to. The repetition of "llorale al pajaro muerto" (cry for the dead bird) emphasizes the sadness and grief of the situation.
The song is a powerful reflection on the pain of losing someone dear to us, and the determination to fight against fate to keep them close. The comparison to a dead bird adds a sense of finality and hopelessness to the lyrics, highlighting the inevitability of death and separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Si yo algun dia te pierdo
If I ever lose you
Contra el destino yo luchare
I will fight against fate
Que no lo aguanta mi cuerpo
My body can't handle it
Lo frío de un mundo sin volverte a ver
The coldness of a world without seeing you again
Y como un pajaro muerto
And like a dead bird
Volando me iré para el infierno
I will fly away to hell
Donde viven desconsolados
Where the disconsolate live
Les que de ti se han alejao'
Those who have left you
Y llorale al pajaro muerto
And cry for the dead bird
Y llorale al pajaro muerto
And cry for the dead bird
El que yo nunca seré
The one that I will never be
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ANTOINE CHAO, DANIEL JAMET, JACQUES CLAYEUX, JOSE MANUEL CHAO, OLIVIER DAHAN, PHILIPPE TEBOUL, SANTIAGO CASARIEGO, THOMAS ARROYOS, THOMAS DARNAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@2023TTM
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