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.
La vida
Mano Negra Lyrics
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Que llega Raquel
Si la vida me da palo
yo la voy a soportar
si la vida me da palo
yo la voy a espavilar (x2)
por todo lo que hay que pagar,
el que tiene se queda
y el que no tiene se va
Y l que tiene no da
y al que no le da no le llora
porque no hay tiempo ya
para tanta humanidad
Y asi esta, asi esta
el patio en esta ciudad
el que tiene se queda
y el que no tiene se va
Bajo un arbol sin fruto
me puse a considerar
Cuantos amigos tiene
el que no tiene que dar?
Frente a la gran ciudad
me puse a considerar
Cuantos amigos tiene
el que tiene y no sabe dar?
Espavila Fidel
Que llega Raquel
The lyrics of Mano Negra's song "La vida" (Life) express a strong sense of resilience and survival amidst the difficulties and inequalities of life. The song starts with the lines "Despavila a Fidel que llega Raquel" (Wake up Fidel, Raquel is coming), which could be interpreted as a call to action or an encouragement to face the challenges of life. The next two lines, which are repeated twice, convey the message that even if life hits hard, one can bear and overcome the difficulties.
The next stanza expresses a bleak view of the world as a place where one is constantly required to pay for everything, and where the rich get richer while the poor suffer. The lines "Y al que no le da, no le llora, porque no hay tiempo ya para tanta humanidad" (And he who doesn't give, doesn't cry for him, because there's no time left for so much humanity) suggest a lack of empathy and compassion in a world that values money and power over people's needs and feelings.
The third stanza takes a more introspective turn, with the singer wondering about the value of friendship in a world where one's worth is often measured by their possessions and status. The lines "Cuantos amigos tiene el que no tiene que dar?" (How many friends does the one who has nothing to give have?) and "Cuantos amigos tiene el que tiene y no sabe dar?" (How many friends does the one who has and doesn't know how to give have?) highlight the importance of genuine connection and generosity as opposed to superficial relationships based on material gain.
Overall, the lyrics of "La vida" reflect a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the way the world works, but also a message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Despavila a Fidel
Wake up Fidel
Que llega Raquel
Raquel is coming
Si la vida me da palo
If life gives me a hard time
yo la voy a soportar
I will endure it
si la vida me da palo
If life gives me a hard time
yo la voy a espavilar (x2)
I will shake things up and deal with it (twice)
El mundo es una puta
The world is a whore
por todo lo que hay que pagar,
because of everything we have to pay for
el que tiene se queda
the one who has something stays
y el que no tiene se va
and the one who doesn't have anything leaves
Y l que tiene no da
And the one who has doesn't give
y al que no le da no le llora
and the one who doesn't give doesn't cry for him
porque no hay tiempo ya
because there's no time left
para tanta humanidad
for so much humanity
Y asi esta, asi esta
And this is how it is, how it is
el patio en esta ciudad
the situation in this city
el que tiene se queda
the one who has something stays
y el que no tiene se va
and the one who doesn't have anything leaves
Bajo un arbol sin fruto
Under a fruitless tree
me puse a considerar
I started to think
Cuantos amigos tiene
How many friends does
el que no tiene que dar?
the one who doesn't have to give?
Frente a la gran ciudad
In front of the big city
me puse a considerar
I started to think
Cuantos amigos tiene
How many friends does
el que tiene y no sabe dar?
the one who has but doesn't know how to give?
Espavila Fidel
Wake up, Fidel
Que llega Raquel
Raquel is coming
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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