Mala Vida
Manu Chao Lyrics


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Tu me estas dando mala vida
yo pronto me voy a escapar
gitana mia por lo menos date cuenta
gitana mia por favor
no me dejas ni respirar
tu me estas dando mala vida

cada dia se la traga mi corazon !

dime tu porque te trato yo tan bien
cuando tu me hablas como un cabron
gitana mia !
mi corazito està sufriendo
gitana mia por favor
sufriendo mal nutricion
tu me estas dando mala vida





cada dia se la traga mi corazon !

Overall Meaning

In Manu Chao's song "Mala Vida," we see a troubled relationship between two people. The singer is almost pleading with his gypsy lover, begging her to realize that she is giving him a bad life. He wants to escape and feels suffocated by her. The emotions run high as he questions why he treats her so well when she speaks to him coldly and cruelly. The line "cada día se la traga mi corazón" (everyday my heart swallows it) suggests that the situation is affecting him emotionally and physically. He is suffering from malnutrition brought on by the stress of this relationship.


The song is a powerful representation of how abusive relationships can affect people beyond just the emotional toll. It can take a physical toll on a person as well, leading to serious health problems. Despite the heavy subject matter, the melody is upbeat and memorable. By juxtaposing the catchy tune with the heavy lyrics, Manu Chao amplifies the song's message. This is a classic example of an artist using their platform to create a message driven song.


Line by Line Meaning

Tu me estas dando mala vida
You are making my life miserable


yo pronto me voy a escapar
I am going to leave soon


gitana mia por lo menos date cuenta
My dear Gypsy, please realize


gitana mia por favor
My dear Gypsy, please


no me dejas ni respirar
You don't even let me breathe


cada dia se la traga mi corazon !
Every day, my heart is overwhelmed!


dime tu porque te trato yo tan bien
Tell me, why do I treat you so well


cuando tu me hablas como un cabron
When you speak to me like a bastard


mi corazito està sufriendo
My little heart is suffering


sufriendo mal nutricion
Suffering from malnutrition




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT (FRANCE), BMG Rights Management, BMG VM MUSIC FRANCE, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jose Manuel Chao

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@claudiotapia8253

You are giving me a bad life
I will escape soon
My gypsy, at least notice
My gypsy, please, you do not let me breathe
You are giving me a bad life

Each day I swallowed my heart
Tell me, why do I treat you so well?

When you talk to me like an asshole
My gypsy, my heart is suffering
My gyspy, please, I am suffering of malnutrition
You're giving me, givin' me a bad life

Each day I swallowed my heart
Tell me, why do I treat you so well?
When you talk to me like an asshole
You're giving me, givin' me, hey,
my heart

Soleil

You are giving me a bad life
I will escape soon
My gypsy, at least notice
My gypsy, please, you do not let me breathe
You're giving me, givin' me a bad life

Each day I swallowed my heart
Each day I swallowed my heart
Each day I swallowed my heart
Each day I swallowed my heart
Each day I swallowed my heart
Each day I swallowed my heart
Each day I swallowed my heart


Enjoy! ….......Claudio from Chile!



All comments from YouTube:

@chavitaalfaro4778

Conocí esta canción cuando tenia 6 años y la bailaba como loco ya la había olvidado y hoy 20 años después soy tan feliz de haberla reencontrado, no sabía ni el nombre soy tan feliz

@jorgeromero6805

X2 😂

@vendemas5967

Tiene más de 26 años esa canción

@Koni2947

J'étais fan, je les avais vu en concert a leur début a la Cigale a Paris. C'était énorme. C'est le seul groupe que j'ai vu épuiser le public. Je vous jure que c'est vrai.

@dfb445

Je veux bien te croire !

@scabZable

Sympa l'anecdote, on aurait aimé y être!

@marie-josehernandez4401

Waouhhhh..c est fou de savoir çà..Ca donne les frissons..merciiii du partage de ron super souvenir❤

@martakarcz5786

I am really happy to see so mamy people still listening to Mano Negra songs! I discovered the band in a high school, when I was learning french and spanish both at the same time. I love these memories and their songs ❤

@malegria9641

I discovered it through looking for manu chao cds in a shitty little record store and coming across king of bongo xD
I’m from Tucson, so I know quite a bit of Spanish, and I’m French-American, which gives me a basic knowledge of the mother tongue so it’s the perfect band for me (along with radio Bemba lmao)

@albertoluna3014

🖤🖤🖤

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