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.
The Devil's Call
Mano Negra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your soul is Rough
You can't get enouhg
But the Devil is Tough !
Here she comes the little whore
Pushin dope around your door
Come on Rudy take a Stroll
Be deaf to the sirens howl
take stroll, save your soul
You think you are tough, you can't get enough
And you got the dough (for the Devil's stuff)
c'mon Rudy taka a stroll
If you wanna save your soul
When you hear the Devil's call
Take a stroll save yur soul
Here she comes you little friend
Trying to put you down again
C'mon Rudy taka a stroll
Try to save your heart of Gold
When you hear the Devil's call
My heart is cold to the Devil's call
Take a stroll to LA COSTA DEL SOL
With your body and soul.
The lyrics of Mano Negra's song The Devil's Call are very straightforward and deal with the theme of temptation and addiction. The singer sings to Rudy, a person who is portrayed as someone with a tough personality and an insatiable need for something. The lyrics suggest that Rudy is involved with drugs and that the devil is trying to tempt him into addiction.
The song describes the devil as a "little whore" who is "pushin dope around your door." The lyrics tell Rudy to take a stroll but to be deaf to the sirens howl. The meaning of this is that Rudy should resist the temptation of the devil and not give in to addiction. The lyrics also suggest that Rudy has the funds to pay for whatever the devil is offering.
The song then talks about Rudy's friend who is trying to bring him down again. The singer advises Rudy to take a stroll to save his heart of gold and resist the devil's call. The last verse of the song suggests that the singer's heart is cold to the devil's call and advises Rudy to take a stroll to La Costa del Sol with his body and soul, suggesting a place where he can find peace and escape from temptation.
Line by Line Meaning
Your mind is Bold
You have a strong will and are not afraid to take risks
Your soul is Rough
You have a rough exterior and may be cynical towards others
You can't get enouhg
You have an insatiable desire for something
But the Devil is Tough !
The temptation of the Devil is strong and difficult to resist
Here she comes the little whore
The Devil is personified as a seductive and immoral woman
Pushin dope around your door
The Devil's temptation may come in the form of drugs or other vices
Come on Rudy take a Stroll
The singer encourages Rudy to give into temptation and take a chance
Be deaf to the sirens howl
Ignore the warning signs and give in to temptation
When you hear the Devil's call
The temptation of the Devil beckons and becomes difficult to ignore
take stroll, save your soul
The singer advises to walk away from temptation to avoid giving in
You think you are tough, you can't get enough
The person is confident in their ability to resist, but also has an uncontrollable desire
And you got the dough (for the Devil's stuff)
The person has the money to give into the temptation of the Devil's offerings
c'mon Rudy taka a stroll
The singer again urges Rudy to give into temptation
If you wanna save your soul
The only way to avoid giving in to temptation is to walk away completely
Here she comes you little friend
The Devil is portrayed as a cunning and manipulative friend
Trying to put you down again
The Devil's offerings may seem alluring, but they only lead to destruction
Try to save your heart of Gold
The person should protect their pure and good nature from the temptation of the Devil
My heart is cold to the Devil's call
The singer has made the decision to reject the Devil's temptations
Take a stroll to LA COSTA DEL SOL
The person should escape their current situation and go somewhere far away from temptation
With your body and soul.
The person should take their entire being away from the temptation of the Devil
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eblis Azazel
¡Qué chida rolota!
Weslley Gonçalves
Dale Mano