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.

Roger cageot
Mano Negra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Attention v'là l'père Cageot
Avec ses 13 chiens et son chariot
Sa barbe grise, son air fiérot
L'sang va couler dans l'caniveau!
Ceux du goulot vous f'ront la peau
Il agresse tous les passants
Ses yeux sont rouges et menaçants
Mais en lui en voulez pas

D'être si amer, à cet homme-là
Ça fait 50 ans déjà
Qu'il se démène comme un forçat
A engueuler des cons comme toi
Son vélo et sa remorque
C'est comme ta maison
Et ses 13 chiens
Ils pissentdans ton jardin

Y'a plus d'amour dans les foyers
Ceux du goulot vous f'ront la peau

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mano Negra's song Roger cageot depict the character of an old man named Cageot who roams the streets with his cart and 13 dogs. He is described as having a proud demeanor and a grey beard. However, the tone of the lyrics quickly turns dark as the singer warns that blood will flow in the gutters because of those who cross Cageot's path. The old man is known to attack pedestrians and has menacing, red eyes.

Despite his aggressive behavior, the singer advises not to hold bitterness against Cageot as he has been struggling and working like a slave for the past 50 years. He has been shouting insults at people like the listener, and his bike and trailer with dogs is his home. The lyrics end on a bleak note, lamenting that there is no love left in homes and that people like those from the gutters will come after you.

Line by Line Meaning

Attention v'là l'père Cageot
Be cautious, here comes Mr. Cageot

Avec ses 13 chiens et son chariot
He travels with his 13 dogs and a cart

Sa barbe grise, son air fiérot
He has a gray beard and an arrogant demeanor

L'sang va couler dans l'caniveau!
Blood will spill in the gutter

Ceux du goulot vous f'ront la peau
Beware of those from the 'goulot', as they will harm you

Il agresse tous les passants
He attacks all the pedestrians

Ses yeux sont rouges et menaçants
His eyes are red and menacing

Mais en lui en voulez pas
But don't blame him

D'être si amer, à cet homme-là
For being so bitter, this man has been struggling for 50 years

Ça fait 50 ans déjà
Its been fifty years already

Qu'il se démène comme un forçat
He has worked like a slave