Merry blues
Manu Chao Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
So many nights
With your shadow in my bed, eh
So many nights
Baby, you whisper in my head, woh
So many nights
Sing along the Merry Blues
So many nights
I told you once, I told you twice
The merry blues
I told you once, I told you twice
The merry blues
(The merry blues) I can not sleep
(The merry blues) haunted by your pretty body
I can not sleep
(The merry blues) I want the world set on fire
(The merry blues) so many nights
(The merry blues) can't keep from going down loose
(The merry blues)
I told you once, I told you twice
The merry blues
I told you once, I told you twice
The merry blues
Woah
(Hello Nadina, do you do-do-do-do-do) the merry blues
(I feel so happy when I see-see-see-see you) the merry blues
(You make me sing a like a doubadoubado) the merry blues
(I know you like it like a zoumbouzoumbou)
(Hello Nadina, do you do-do-do-do-do)
(I feel the moody like to picky-picky you) I told you once
(I know you like it like a rub-a-dub style) I told you twice, the merry blues
(I know you like a marijuana smokey) so many nights
(Hello Nadina, do you do-do-do-do-do) I sing along the merry blues
(I feel so happy when I see-see-see-see you) so many nights
(You make me sing a like a doubadoubado) can't keep from goin' down loose
(I know you like it like a zoumbouzoumbou) the merry Blues
(Hello Nadina, do you do-do-do-do-do) the merry blues
(I feel the moody like to picky-picky you) the merry blues
(I know you like it like a rub-a-dub style) the merry blues
(I know you like a marijuana smokey) woh
(Hello Nadina, do you do-do-do-do-do)
(I feel the moody like to picky-picky you)
(I know you like it like a rub-a-dub style)
(I know you like a marijuana smokey)
(Permanece a la escucha)
(Permanece a la escucha)
(Permanece a la escucha) (atento)
(Bienvenida)
(Mantenga velocidad y rumbo)
(Próxima estación, Esperanza)
The lyrics to Manu Chao's song "Merry blues" are about the struggle to let go of a past lover and move on. The protagonist laments about the many nights spent haunted by the memory of his love, unable to sleep and finding solace only in singing along to the blues. He addresses his lover Nadina directly in the verse, expressing his feelings of happiness and desire for her, but ultimately acknowledges that he must let go of the past and move forward. The chorus repeats the phrase "The merry blues" as a mantra, a reminder that though he may be haunted by memories, he will find joy in music and eventually overcome his sadness.
The use of blues music in the song is significant because the blues is a genre that historically arises from the struggles of black Americans in the early 20th century. The style is characterized by its melancholic sound and lyrics that often dealt with themes of heartbreak and poverty. Through his use of the blues, Manu Chao draws on the genre's history and significance to convey his own emotions of despair and hopelessness.
Overall, "Merry blues" is a powerful and emotional song that explores the pain of lost love and the search for solace in music. Through its mix of English and Spanish lyrics and the use of blues music, the song speaks to a universal struggle that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
So many nights
The narrator has spent countless nights thinking about their lover.
With your shadow in my bed, eh
The memory of the lover haunts the narrator in moments of loneliness.
Baby, you whisper in my head, woh
The lover's voice echoes in the narrator's mind.
Sing along the Merry Blues
The narrator finds solace in music, which allows him to express his emotions.
I told you once, I told you twice
The merry blues
The narrator has expressed his feelings to the lover before, through music.
I can not sleep
(The merry blues) haunted by your pretty body
The narrator is unable to sleep because they are haunted by the memory of the lover.
I want the world set on fire
(The merry blues) so many nights
The narrator's emotional turmoil makes them feel like they want to burn down the world.
(The merry blues) can't keep from going down loose
(The merry blues)
The narrator's emotions overwhelm him and he feels like he's losing control.
(Hello Nadina, do you do-do-do-do-do) the merry blues
The narrator addresses Nadina, possibly as a way of transferring his feelings for his lover onto her.
(I feel so happy when I see-see-see-see you) the merry blues
The narrator finds happiness and comfort in the presence of Nadina.
(I know you like it like a rub-a-dub style) I told you twice,
the merry blues
The narrator knows what Nadina likes and has expressed his feelings to her through music.
(I know you like a marijuana smokey) so many nights
The narrator suggests that he and Nadina share a common interest in smoking marijuana.
Permanece a la escucha
The narrator urges the listener to pay attention to his words.
Bienvenida
The narrator greets the listener.
Mantenga velocidad y rumbo
The narrator advises the listener to maintain their speed and direction in life.
Próxima estación, Esperanza
The narrator suggests that the next stop in the journey is hope.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jose Manuel Chao
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
- - -
Manu Chao (born José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao on 21 June 1961 in Paris, France) is a singer of French and Spanish (Basque, Galician) origin.
Heavily influenced by the UK rock scene, particularly The Clash, The Jam and Dr. Feelgood, Chao and other musicians formed the Spanish/English rockabilly group Hot Pants in the mid-1980s. The group released a demo entitled "Mala Vida" in 1984, which received plenty of local critical praise but otherwise gained them little attention. By the time the group released their first album in 1986 the Parisian alternative music scene had taken flight, and Manu, his brother Antoine Chao, and friends such as Alain from Les Wampas formed Los Carayos to incorporate this sound with the rockabilly and punk styles of Hot Pants. Los Carayos remained a side project of the artists for eight years, releasing three albums in the first two years followed by a final album in 1994.
Manu Chao had been a well-known member of the Parisian alternative music scene, in bands such as Hot Pants and Los Carayos. In 1987, Chao, his brother Antoine Chao and their cousin Santiago Casariego founded the band Mano Negra, which met with success in France first with the hit single Mala Vida and then Mexico, Central and South America, where the band toured. The band split in 1995.
Chao sings in French, Spanish, Arabic, Galician, Portuguese, English, Italian, and Wolof, sometimes mixing them in the same song. He is one of the world's largest selling artists, but is less known in the English-speaking world.
Chao's music has many influences: rock, French chanson, Spanish-American Salsa, Reggae, Ska and Algerian rai. These influences were obtained from immigrants in France, his Iberian roots and his travels in Latin America following the disbanding of Mano Negra. Many of Chao's lyrics are about political issues (e.g., immigration, global social justice, conflict, and a strongly leftist critique of exploitative economic globalization) but they are also about love, lifestyles in different parts of the world, and music itself, which is hopeful for the future and at the same time dramatic. Chao is openly critical of the Bush administration in the US. He has many followers among the European left and the anti-globalization movement.
The influence of Manu Chao in Latin Rock or "Rock en Español" was crucial not only for the development and rise of new Latin bands that tried to emulate his eclectic style, but also for the self-knowledge of Latin America as a united culture. After the Latin America tour and travels, Manu Chao lyrics were more often written in Spanish than were the Mano Negra lyrics. His songs also took the lyrics or chords of some popular tunes like "El preso" from "Fruko y Sus Tesos" (in "Desaparecido") or "La Verdolaga" a traditional Colombian cumbia (in "Por el Suelo").
Manu Chao's music does not follow a logical textual narrative, but in its eclectic construction it invokes a deeper understanding of its subject than any literal form could. He sings songs about the people of the streets, the outer provinces, and the marginalised; he sings with the forgotten and uncounted billions, the underclass, and in so doing, he speaks about the fragility of human kind. His music is a bridge, exploring the common ground and means of mutual understanding that are available to us, exponating the idea that beyond superfluous differences in cultural identity, we are all the same.
Sixerk666
So many nights
with your shadow in my bed
so many nights
baby, you whisper in my head
so many nights
sing along the merry blues
so many nights...
I told you once
I told you twice
the merry blues...
I told you once
I told you twice
the merry blues...
The merry blues
I cannot sleep
haunted by your pretty body
I cannot sleep
I want the world set on fire
so many nights
can't keep from going down lose..
I told you once
I told you twice
the merry blues...
I told you once
I told you twice
the merry blues...
The merry blues, the merry blues...
hello nadina do you do do do do do
i feel so happy when i see see see see you
you make me sing like a doubadoubad...
i know you like it like a zoumbouzoumbou...
hello nadina do you do do do do do
i feel the moody like to picky picky you
I told you once
I told you twice
the merry blues...
i know you like it like a rubadub stylee
i know you like the marjiuana smoking
so many nights
I sing along the merry blues
so many nights.
can't keep from going down lose...
the merry blues...
Joinha Belesma
Tantas noites
Com sua sombra na minha cama
Tantas noites
Querida, sua respiração na minha cabeça
Tantas noites
Cantando sozinho o blues alegre
Tantas noites
Te falei uma vez
Te falei duas vezes
O blues alegre
Não consigo dormir
assombrado por seu lindo corpo
Não consigo dormir
Eu quero que o mundo pegue fogo
Tantas noites
Não posso continuar fracassando
Te falei uma vez
Te falei duas vezes
O blues alegre
Olá nadina você faz faz faz faz faz faz
Me sinto tão feliz quando eu vejo vejo vejo vejo você
Você me faz cantar como um doubadoubadé
Eu sei que você gosta disso como um zoumbouzoumboué
Olá nadina do you do do do do do
Eu sinto o Moody como picky picky em você
Eu sei que você gosta desse estilo como um a rubadub
Eu sei que você gosta da fumaça da marijuana
Alejandro Maggioni
So many nites
With your shadow in my bed
So many nites
Baby you whisper in my head
So many nites
Sing along the Merry Blues
So many nites…
I told you once
I told you twice
The Merry blues…
I can not sleep
Haunted by your pretty body
I can not sleep
I want the world set on fire
So many nites
Can't keep from goin down loose..
I told you once
I told you twice
The Merry blues...
Hellonadinadoyoudododododo
IfeelsohappywhenIseeseeseeseeyou
Youmakemesingalikeadoubadoubadé
Iknowyoulikeitlikeazoumbouzoumboué
Hellonadinadoyoudododododo
Ifeelthemoodyliketopickypickyyou
Iknowyoulikeitlikearubadubstylee
Iknowyoulikeamarihuanasmokey
So many nites
Sing along the Merry Blues
So many nites…
Can't keep from goin down loose..
The Merry Blues….
Lady Vina
Pensar que fue mi regalo de 11 cumpleaños este disco...20 años después sigue siendo insuperable!!! gracias Manuu
Wasoncubot P11
Insuperable no.
Pero único y genial... Si
judith hernandez
Necesito la historia 🙏💖✨
laura cid
Me lo compré grabado cuando tenía 14, jaja genial! Linda época!
sebastian lopez
Es genial, cargado de buenas vibras !
Sia
@Wasoncubot P11 ?
Esperanza Rodríguez
mi padre me puso Esperanza por este disco y no paraba de ponerlo cuando era pequeña. Lo he vuelto a escuchar años después y es maravilloso...
xyz
Tu viejo sabe!
KaitoNara
Me pasa algo muy parecido, en especial con esta canción. Hace años, mi familia administraba una ferretería. Cómo yo era el menor de los hijos -2003/2006- que podía acompañar a mi papá a comprar pinturas a Concepción para abastecer la ferretería, iba con él. Tengo hermosos recuerdos de escuchar este disco completo una y otra vez, especialmente del inicio de esta canción y la entrada entre bosques húmedos y la lluvia torrencial arriba del camión Chevrolet amarillo. Es algo maravilloso remontarse a esos lindos días.
Daniel Caballero
Mi padre me puso a mi Manu y luego nos dijo Chao :(