Nacho Vegas has been a prominent figure in the Spanish 'indie' scene since his work with Eliminator Jr, Manta Ray; bands influenced by Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine, and other similar avant-rock acts of the early 90's. He started his solo career, backed by Las Esferas Invisibles, in 2001, with "Actos Inexplicables", a mostly acoustic album which featured rich atmospheres of accordions and harmonicas, Nacho playing guitar with Nick Drake rich simplicity. A strong Leonard Cohen influence was sensed in the songwriting. The next big release was in 2003: "Cajas de musica dificiles de parar". This double album had a more corrosive sound, retaining the simplicity of the previous but adding layer upon layer of distortion and electric guitar interplay for a more rock-sounding effort. In 2005 came "Desaparezca aqui", which sounds more straight-forward than the previous albums while keeping the same focus on a perfect balance between style and substance.
Nacho Vegas is currently working on a collaboration with Enrique Bunbury and Carlos Ann, which will probably be released later this year, as well as a new album with Las Esferas Invisibles, based on Asturian folk songs.
Noches De Verano En La Casa Gris
Nacho Vegas Lyrics
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Con trece años corría siempre a tu habitación
y tus tetas eran algo más
que un gran sitio sobre el que solía dormir.
Tu olor intenso a tierra mojada y a sudor,
las fotos sepia y el cristo en la cruz.
Me pegabas por correrme antes de empezar
No, ahora no siento nada.
Algunas tardes jugaba en el patio a que podía volar.
Tú hacías la cena en la cocina de carbón.
Tanta carne, y yo tan tímido,
y en mi boca la cena recordaba tu sabor.
Un pitillo cada vez que lo hacía bien,
una hostia si mojaba el pantalón.
Ahora ya no pienso en ti más que alguna vez.
Uno ya no está en edad de volar.
No, ya no tengo edad para volar
y ahora no siento nada.
In Nacho Vegas's song "Noches De Verano En La Casa Gris," the singer reminisces about the summer nights spent at the "gray house" with a woman who was likely older and with whom he had a somewhat inappropriate relationship. The singer remembers how, at thirteen years old, he would run to her room and how her breasts were more than just a place where he would sleep. The woman's smell of wet earth and sweat, the sepia photographs, and the cross on the wall are all vivid memories for the singer. While the woman would hit him for ejaculating too soon, there is no resentment left in the singer. He doesn't feel anything now.
The song also features the singer's memories of playing in the yard and how the woman made dinner on a coal stove. The singer was shy and the meat was plentiful. He recalls how, even though he was too old to wet himself, the woman would still hit him if he did. The singer can't help but occasionally think of the woman, but he acknowledges that he is too old to engage in the same behavior. The lyrics capture a bittersweet sense of nostalgia tinged with a bit of regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Recuerdo las noches de verano en la casa gris.
I remember the summer nights at the grey house.
Con trece años corría siempre a tu habitación
At thirteen years old, I always ran to your room.
y tus tetas eran algo más
And your breasts were something more.
que un gran sitio sobre el que solía dormir.
Than a great place where I used to sleep.
Tu olor intenso a tierra mojada y a sudor,
Your intense smell of wet earth and sweat,
las fotos sepia y el cristo en la cruz.
The sepia photos and the Christ on the cross.
Me pegabas por correrme antes de empezar
You hit me for finishing before starting.
pero no queda en mí ningún rencor.
But I hold no grudges against you.
No, ahora no siento nada.
No, now I feel nothing.
Algunas tardes jugaba en el patio a que podía volar.
Some afternoons, I played in the yard pretending I could fly.
Tú hacías la cena en la cocina de carbón.
You made dinner in the coal kitchen.
Tanta carne, y yo tan tímido,
So much meat, and I so shy,
y en mi boca la cena recordaba tu sabor.
And the dinner in my mouth reminded me of your taste.
Un pitillo cada vez que lo hacía bien,
A cigarette every time I did it right,
una hostia si mojaba el pantalón.
A slap if I wet my pants.
Ahora ya no pienso en ti más que alguna vez.
Now I only think of you occasionally.
Uno ya no está en edad de volar.
One is no longer young enough to fly.
No, ya no tengo edad para volar
No, I am no longer young enough to fly.
y ahora no siento nada.
And now I feel nothing.
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.