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.
Guayakill City
Mano Negra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tanto calor ne se puede aguantar
"Oye pana! Que pasa por la calle?"
Llorando va la terremoto
Se mato su nino en motot
"Y su hombre que esta en emar?!"
Dime tu quien va a cobrar?
"Oye pana! Que pasa por la calle?"
La huelga en el puerto
Ya se ha terminao
El del syndicato
Ya se lo han cargao
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Guayaquil City
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Gonna kill you baby
Vendo sueno peruano
Venga hermano errollate!
Todo el dinero que yo gano
A Miami lo mandare
"Y si te engana el colombiano?"
De un balazo lo matare
"Que paso por la calle?
Nada! No pasa nada!"
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Guayaquil City
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Gonna kill you baby
Guayaquil City va a reventar
Tanto calor ne se puede aguantar
The lyrics to Mano Negra's song Guayaquil City tell of the danger and chaos that exists in the city. The opening line, "Guayaquil City va a reventar" means "Guayaquil City is going to explode," and sets the tone for the rest of the song. The heat in the city is oppressive and people are struggling to cope. The singer hears someone crying and when they ask what is wrong, they learn that the person, named "la terremoto," has lost their child in a motorcycle accident. They ask about the child's father and who will take responsibility for the accident, but there are no answers.
The song then switches to a description of a labor strike in the port of Guayaquil. The leader of the strike has been killed and the strike has ended. The chorus repeats the ominous warning that the city is going to kill you. The next stanza talks about the sale of "Peruvian dreams," likely a reference to either drugs or illegal activities. The singer tells their customers to be careful of being cheated by Colombians, and if they are, they will be killed. The final refrain again warns of the impending destruction of the city due to the heat and the danger that exists.
Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of the chaos and danger that exists in Guayaquil City. It touches on themes of poverty, violence, corruption, and despair, and warns of the impending destruction that may be caused by these conditions.
Line by Line Meaning
Guayaquil City va a revantar
The city of Guayaquil is going to explode
Tanto calor ne se puede aguantar
The heat is unbearable
"Oye pana! Que pasa por la calle?"
"Hey, friend! What's happening on the street?"
Llorando va la terremoto
Terremoto is crying
Se mato su nino en moto
Her child died in a motorcycle accident
"Y su hombre que esta en emar?!"
"And her man who is in jail?!"
Dime tu quien va a cobrar?
Tell me, who's going to pay?
"Oye pana! Que pasa por la calle?"
"Hey, friend! What's happening on the street?"
La huelga en el puerto
The strike at the port
Ya se ha terminao
It has already ended
El del syndicato
The union leader
Ya se lo han cargao
They have already taken care of him
Oh-oh-oh-oh
No specific meaning, just sounds
Guayaquil City
The city of Guayaquil
Gonna kill you baby
Going to kill you, baby
Vendo sueño peruano
I sell Peruvian dreams
Venga hermano errollate!
Come on, brother, get high!
Todo el dinero que yo gano
All the money that I earn
A Miami lo mandare
I'll send it to Miami
"Y si te engana el colombiano?"
"What if the Colombian guy deceives you?"
De un balazo lo matare
I'll shoot him dead
"Que paso por la calle?
"What happened on the street?
Nada! No pasa nada!"
Nothing! Nothing is happening!
Guayaquil City va a reventar
The city of Guayaquil is going to explode
Tanto calor ne se puede aguantar
The heat is unbearable
Writer(s): Olivier Dahan, Thomas Darnal, Daniel Jamet, Jose Manuel Chao, Philippe Teboul, Pierre Paul Gauthe, Santiago Casariego, Antoine Chao
Contributed by Leah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@soydoblehache3543
Guayaquil City va a reventar,
¡Tanto calor no se puede aguantar¡,
(¡Oye pana!,
¿Qué pasa por la calle?)
Llorando va la Terremoto
Se mató su niño en moto
(¿Y su hombre que está en el mar?)
Dime tú, ¿quién va a cobrar?
(Oye pana!
Qué pasa por la calle?)
La huelga en el puerto
Ya se ha terminao'
Al sindicato
Ya se lo han cargao'
Guayaquil City,
Gonna kill you baby,
Vendo sueño peruano
Venga hermano enróllate
Y el dinero que yo gano
A Miami lo mandaré
(¿Y si te engaña el Colombiano?
¡De un balazo lo mataré!
(¿Qué pasa por la calle?)
(¡Nada, no pasa nada!)
Guayaquil City,
Gonna kill you baby,
Guayaquil City,
(Guayaquil City va a reventar,
¡Tanto calor no se puede aguantar¡)
@senyokwadzo5908
J’ai découvert et écouté cette chanson par hasard après avoir fait un trip en Équateur et séjourné à Guayaquil… J’ai vraiment l’impression que ce qui est chanté est ce que j’y ai vécu… Et à chaque écoute, les notes me renvoient à mon voyage là-bas en 1998. Quel magnifique pays!!!🇪🇨
Merci à la Mano Negra d’avoir pu retranscrire mes impressions de voyageur dans cette ville sans me connaître.👌🏼👍🏼
@consuelocadena4950
Soy Quiteña, pero amo esta cancion por orgullo ecuatoriano. Gracias Mano Negra!!!
@lamuertedemacario3850
Que ganas de visitar Guayaqui. saludos desde México, hermanos latinos.!
@mechaaron
Yo soy de Guayaquil, Ecuador, qué orgullo que Manu Chao y Mano Negra hayan dedicado una canción a mí bella y hermosa ciudad.
@Manucocuevach
Encantados de que pruebes la comida. De seguro la disfrutarías.
@rigobertoarredondovaladez8797
Mucha fuerza a nuestros hermanos ecuatorianos por lo ocurrido hoy 9/1/24 ❤🇪🇨
@roweltrujillo2202
Lo hermoso que es Guayaquil y su gente! Me encanta cada año voy a tomarme cervezas heladas con tremendo calor en veredas con panas !! Me encanta el estilo!
@emirarrab
Los grandiosos 90's. Barrio, birra, amigos. Y buena música.
@BrownEyedHighGirL
I was just reading about Guayaquil and the heartbreaking situation they are living there right now.
Stay strong, Guayaquil !
@ottoantoniocoello8569
Big hug Sister from Gye! Thank you