Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Chao
Discography
Clandestino (1998)
Próxima Estación: Esperanza (2001)
Radio Bemba Sound System (2002)
Sibérie m'était contéee (2004)
La Radiolina (2007)
Baionarena (2008)
Mala Fama
Manu Chao Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fama mala fama zamuro en la gran ciudad
Fama mala fama la que me va maldiciendo
Fama mala fama dime tu porque sera
Yo soy un hombre sincero
De donde crece la juana
Boca de vieja contando de todo lo que no sabe
Fama mala fama la que me va precediendo
Fama mala fama zamuro en la gran ciudad
Como buitre por la gran ciudad
Arrastratela
Me dicen el desagradecido
Esa no es la verdad
Me dicen de todo me dicen de nada
Nunca por delante siempre por detrás
Fama mala fama la que me va maldiciendo
Fama mala fama zamuro en la gran ciudad
Fama mala fama la que me va precediendo
Fama mala fama por algo sera
Fama mala fama
Pero saoco yo sigo pa'lante
Se que mi día llegara
Boca de vieja inventando
Lo que se ira comentando
Todo lo va fabulando
No sabe ma' que decir
Me dicen el de la mala vida
Perro verde mal educado
Me dicen de todo me dicen de nada
Nunca por delante siempre por detrás
Fama mala fama la que me va maldiciendo
Fama mala fama dime tu porque sera
Fama mala fama se que mi día llegara
Y de vecina en vecina
Llego hasta allá a la china
Y de vuelta a la cocina
Radio bemba comentando de todo lo que pasa
The lyrics to Manu Chao's song "Mala Fama" address the theme of reputation, in particular, the negative and destructive effects of a bad reputation. The song communicates the sense of being a victim of a "bad name" or "mala fama," an unpleasant label that follows the singer as a persistent rumor or menace that he cannot dispel. The lyrics convey a feeling of frustration towards people who spread rumors and, in the process, destroy the individual's reputation. Manu Chao even speaks through the role of the individual who is accused of having a 'bad reputation,' defending himself against the gossips and explaining the truth of their situation.
In the song, Manu Chao also acknowledges the power of 'Boca de Vieja,' which is a Spanish phrase for gossiping, wagging tongues. He describes the impact of this form of communication and how it spreads like a contagion, poisoning everything in its path. He highlights the absurdity of the unfounded rumors, and the negative impact they have on people's lives. Throughout the song, the singer attempts to explain that the reputation given to him is not just, asking what he did to deserve this bad reputation, and stating that he is confident in his abilities.
Overall, the song "Mala Fama" by Manu Chao reflects the sense of powerlessness that comes with a bad reputation. It also represents the importance of taking a different path, being patient, and remaining confident in oneself despite the destructive nature of gossip.
Line by Line Meaning
Fama mala fama la que me va persiguiendo
I am haunted by a negative reputation that follows wherever I go
Fama mala fama zamuro en la gran ciudad
Like a vulture in the big city, my reputation is a negative one
Fama mala fama la que me va maldiciendo
My negative reputation curses me
Fama mala fama dime tu porque sera
I wonder why I have a bad reputation
Yo soy un hombre sincero
I am an honest man
De donde crece la juana
I come from a place where marijuana grows
Boca de vieja contando de todo lo que no sabe
Gossipy old women talk about things they don't know about
Fama mala fama la que me va precediendo
My negative reputation precedes me
Como buitre por la gran ciudad
Like a vulture in the big city
Arrastratela
Drag it along
Me dicen el desagradecido
They call me ungrateful
Esa no es la verdad
That's not the truth
Me dicen de todo me dicen de nada
They say everything and nothing about me
Nunca por delante siempre por detrás
Never to my face but always behind my back
Pero saoco yo sigo pa'lante
But I keep moving forward with saoco (a Caribbean rhythm)
Se que mi día llegara
I know my day will come
Boca de vieja inventando
Gossipy old women making things up
Lo que se ira comentando
What they will be talking about
Todo lo va fabulando
Making up all kinds of stories
No sabe ma' que decir
They don't know what to say
Me dicen el de la mala vida
They call me a man with a bad life
Perro verde mal educado
Uneducated green dog (a derogatory term)
Fama mala fama se que mi día llegara
Even though I have a bad reputation, I know my day will come
Y de vecina en vecina
From neighbor to neighbor
Llego hasta allá a la china
It goes all the way to China
Y de vuelta a la cocina
And back to the kitchen
Radio bemba comentando de todo lo que pasa
The rumor mill spreads gossip about everything that happens
Lyrics © SONGS MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JOSE-MANUEL THO CHAO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karyna Martínez
💚🦅❤️ Soñar con tu regreso, no está muy lejos de la realidad, el corazón se emociona con la nota de días anteriores.
Rober Silva
Gracias Manu , gracias por tu música , tu sabiduría y tú manera de transmitir las cosas . Saludos a todo el mundo , desde Bernal oeste , zona sur , buenos aires Argentina.
Youness EL KISSAI
Fucking wonderful 💓
Feeling guitars are talking to my soul
What a musician
Love it too much
MCS
Esta canción la amaré por siempre 💕💜
Valerio d'angelo
Manu is the soundtrack of my life
Howa Bido
Me to bro 😘💖
billa corgan o
Essaaa
Marin 4-7
Que rolota de Manu! 👌😌
Julian Caicedo
Me dicen el desagradecido, me dicen todo, me dicen de mas, nunca por delante siempre por detras
balazo357
manu muy querido aca en venezuela saludos a toda esa gente de todo el mundo todos estamos unidos por la misma causa