Mano Negra was a French/Spanish/Portuguese band fronted by Manu Chao, born … Read Full Bio ↴Mano Negra was a French/Spanish/Portuguese band fronted by Manu Chao, born in Paris, France to Spanish parents. The band was founded in 1987 by Manu, his brother Antoine, and his cousin Santiago Casiriego. It split circa 1995, but many members had already left in 1992.

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.

Machine Gun
Mano Negra Lyrics

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Si la tierra tiembla
Se hunde en el mar
Si la tierra tiembla
Nadie se va salvar...
Si la tierra tiembla
Bombala, bombala, bombala, bombala

Si la tierra tiembla

Sera culpa ti!
Si la tierra tiembla
Nadie se va salvar

Si la Tierra Tiembla
Se hunde en el Mar
Nadie se va salvar
Si la tierra tiembla... Machine Gun
...Machine Gun

Bomba ATOMIKA
Bomba ATOMIKA

Bomba ECONOMIA... sera culpa ti
nadie se va salvar!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mano Negra's "Machine Gun" are somewhat cryptic and imply a feeling of fear and doom. The song starts with the line "Si la tierra tiembla" ("If the earth shakes"), which is repeated several times throughout the song. This line is followed by "Se hunde en el mar" ("It sinks into the sea"), indicating that the earth is unstable and may eventually collapse. The next line, "nadie se va salvar" ("no one will be saved"), further emphasizes the feeling of helplessness and impending disaster. As the song continues, the singer begins to assign blame for this impending crisis, singing "Sera culpa ti" ("It will be your fault"). The chorus of the song repeats the lines "Si la tierra tiembla" and "Machine Gun," which adds to the ominous atmosphere and sense of urgency of the song.

The second verse introduces the idea of an "Atomic Bomb" and an "Economic Bomb," which will also contribute to the destruction of the world. The repeated line "nadie se va salvar" emphasizes the point that no one will be spared, regardless of their status or power. The final line, "sera culpa ti," indicates that the destruction of the earth and humanity is partly the result of human actions and choices.

Overall, "Machine Gun" serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of neglecting the environment, as well as the dangers of nuclear weapons and unbridled capitalism. The lyrics suggest that all of these forces are interconnected and that there may be no escaping the ultimate consequences of our collective actions.

Line by Line Meaning