Clandestino
Manu Chao Lyrics


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Solo voy con mi pena
Sola va mi condena
Correr es mi destino
Para burlar la ley

Perdido en el corazón
De la grande Babylon
Me dicen El Clandestino
Por no llevar papel

Para una ciudad del norte
Yo me fui a trabajar
Mi vida la dejé
Entre Ceuta y Gibraltar

Soy una raya en el mar
Fantasma en la ciudad
Mi vida va prohibida
Dice la autoridad

Solo voy con mi pena
Sola va mi condena
Correré mi destino
Por no llevar papel

Perdido en el corazón
De la grande Babylon
Me dicen El Clandestino
Yo soy el quiebra ley

Africano clandestino
Colombiano clandestino
Y el cubano clandestino
Marihuana ilegal

Solo voy con mi pena
Sola va mi condena
Correr es mi destino
Para burlar la ley

Perdido en el corazón
De la grande Babylon
Me dicen El Clandestino
Yo soy el quiebra ley

Africano clandestino
Colombiano clandestino




Y el cubano clandestino
Marihuana ilegal

Overall Meaning

Manu Chao's song Clandestino tells the story of an illegal immigrant who must run from the law to survive. The lyrics describe his constant moving, his loneliness and the oppression he suffers from authorities, who see him as a lawbreaker because he lacks papers. The person singing the song identifies as "El Clandestino" meaning "The Clandestine One," which shows his distinct sense of identity as an illegal immigrant.


The song also makes reference to the different origins of other immigrants who are also living clandestinely. They come from Africa, Colombia, and Cuba. These verses highlight the diversity of the immigrant experience and the fact that it's not just one group of people who experience this type of oppression.


Additionally, the song's chorus, "Solo voy con mi pena, Sola va mi condena, Correr es mi destino, Para burlar la ley" emphasizes that this person is deeply affected by their situation and faces a lonely path forward. Despite the dim portrayal of this experience, the music of the song is upbeat, and its rhythm has a reggae and ska influence.


* Clandestino is the song that catapulted Manu Chao to international success.
* Manu Chao spent 5 years traveling throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe before making this album.
* The album 'Clandestino' was primarily recorded in makeshift studios and locations chosen by Chao and his musicians, such as hotel rooms and in his living room in Barcelona.
* Many of the tracks on the album are sung in Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
* Clandestino is considered a seminal work in Latin Alternative music.
* Clandestino has been covered by several artists, including Lila Downs and Panteón Rococó.
* The song is included on the soundtrack of the popular video game, FIFA Football 2004.
* In 2013, a documentary about the making and reception of the album, 'Clandestino: In Search of Manu Chao' was released.
* The album features the distinctive vocal interjections of Argentinean musician, Daniel "Pindo" Toppino.
* The song has been interpreted as criticism of immigration policies and the idea of "papers" as the main form of identification for individuals.


Chords:
The chords of the song are: Am, D, G, C, F, Dm, E.


Line by Line Meaning

Solo voy con mi pena
I am alone with my pain and sorrow.


Sola va mi condena
I am serving my sentence alone.


Correr es mi destino
My destiny is to run and escape.


Para burlar la ley
To defy the law.


Perdido en el corazón
Lost in the heart.


De la grande Babylon
In the big Babylon.


Me dicen El Clandestino
They call me The Clandestine.


Por no llevar papel
Because I don't have papers.


Para una ciudad del norte
To a city in the North.


Yo me fui a trabajar
I went to work.


Mi vida la dejé
I left my life.


Entre Ceuta y Gibraltar
Between Ceuta and Gibraltar.


Soy una raya en el mar
I am a line in the sea.


Fantasma en la ciudad
A ghost in the city.


Mi vida va prohibida
My life is forbidden.


Dice la autoridad
According to the authorities.


Yo soy el quiebra ley
I am the lawbreaker.


Africano clandestino
African illegal.


Colombiano clandestino
Colombian illegal.


Y el cubano clandestino
And the Cuban illegal.


Marihuana ilegal
Illegal marijuana.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Jose Manuel Chao

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Anne Melchior

<3 <3 <3

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@vladaakavk370

Solo voy con mi pena
Sola va mi condena
Correr es mi destino
Para burlar la ley

Perdido en el corazón
De la grande Babylon
Me dicen "el clandestino"
Por no llevar papel

Pa' una ciudad del norte
Yo me fui a trabajar
Mi vida la dejé
Entre Ceuta y Gibraltar

Soy una raya en el mar
Fantasma en la ciudad
Mi vida va prohibida
Dice la autoridad

Solo voy con mi pena
Sola va mi condena
Correr es mi destino
Por no llevar papel

Perdido en el corazón
De la grande Babylon
Me dicen "el clandestino"
Yo soy el quebra ley

Mano Negra clandestina
Peruano clandestino
Africano clandestino
Marihuana ilegal

Solo voy con mi pena
Sola va mi condena
Correr es mi destino
Para burlar la ley

Perdido en el corazón
De la grande Babylon
Me dicen "el clandestino"
Por no llevar papel

Argelino clandestino
Nigeriano clandestino
Boliviano clandestino
Mano Negra ilegal



All comments from YouTube:

@arturocifuentes7490

Cuando quieres que la música genere un efecto de emoción al escucharla, te encuentras esto. El nivel de calidad que tiene es brutal: ritmos, letras, originalidad...No es música, es una obra de arte.

@heykike

Meehh..

@camillesolange182

El talento francés al máximo nivel ;-)

@domonkoskiraly

To this day, this is the album I've heard most times. Front to back, back to front, shuffle, any which way, it never gets old. Manu Chao thank you for existing <3

@roaster86

mama was queen of the Mambo, papa was king of the Congo...

@octavioolenikgiaccaglia5460

Hey, mee too! I have been listening to it on and off for ages now, without any doubt the album I've listened the most.

@bottamarkus5446

Ámen

@jomoer8676

same here. since july 2000 many many times. happy that my 16yrs old is liking it, too. but about the leof political conscience i cannot tell how genz will cope with everything

@tiborkojnok2792

Fellow Hungarian here as well.

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