Obrint Pas was formed in 1993, and one year later, in 1994, they recorded their first tape which took them to win the 3rd "Tirant de Rock" (a rock festival). During the following years, the band also took part in several festivals that helped them to consolidate their music. Band members are: Xavi Sarrià (Guitar & vocals), Josep Pitarch, (Bass), Miquel Gironès (Dolçaina), Marc Guardiola (Drums), Robert Fernández (Guitar), Miquel Ramos ( Vocals & Keyboards).
Their first album came out in 1997 with the title La revolta de l'anima (The Soul's Revolution). Three years later, came Obrint Pas (2000), their first album with the record label Propaganda pel Fet. The consolidation of the group came with Terra(Land) in 2003, trying new styles. A year later, in 2004, they recorded La Flama (The Flame), which launched them onto the international scene with gigs in countries like Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Morocco and The Western Sahara.
Their last work En Moviment (Moving)(2005) is a live album with many collaborations such as Alex from Inadaptats, Fermin Muguruza, Al Tall... It was recorded in a tributing gig to Ovidi Montllor in Valencia ten years after his death. This work reached the TOP 20 bestseller albums in Spain (The only group singing in Catalan).
Barcelona
Obrint Pas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
quan vas fugir del món de la tristesa
i amb la fam a les butxaques
vas desfer-te les sabates
pels camins dels perdedors
obrers vençuts
penes al sol
de Barcelona
Un dia qualsevol a Barcelona
Arribaven les nits i tu tornaves
al fang de les barraques oblidades
misèries i corredisses
policies i pallisses
buscavides als cantons
cels plens de nit
als carrerons
de Barcelona
Un dia qualsevol a Barcelona
No temies els cops que t'esperaven
quan vas alçar-te a les primeres vagues
militants d'amors i vides
d'unes lluites clandestines
banderes roges al cel
somnis rebels
sota els estels
de Barcelona
Un dia qualsevol a Barcelona
La vida et va deixar noves batalles
prenyades del demà que ens regalares
peus descalços a les platges
amors bruts onades blanques
uns vaixells salpant del port
i nou futur
a l'horitzó
de Barcelona
Un dia qualsevol a Barcelona
I quan avui et veig emocionar-te
sent tot l'orgull de poder escoltar-te
la veu trencada, l'accent indomable
d'un lluitador
supervivent
a Barcelona
The song "Barcelona" by Obrint Pas is a tribute to the struggles and perseverance of the common people of Barcelona, living in poverty and oppression during the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, dictatorship and post-war period. The lyrics paint the picture of a city still recovering, where the poor are struggling to make ends meet while facing the brutality of the police force and the obstacles imposed by the ruling elites. In this context, the song highlights the resilience and strength of the working-class people, who are able to continue fighting for their rights and their dignity, even in the face of adversity.
The song's opening lines describe the setting of the post-war era, when the lights of the city were coming back to life after a long period of darkness. The singer is depicted as someone who has left behind the world of sadness and hardship, but who is still carrying the burden of hunger and poverty. As he walks along the streets of Barcelona, he encounters other workers who have been defeated by life, enduring the heat of the sun and the pain of their struggles.
The song's chorus, which appears several times throughout the song, refers to a "normal day in Barcelona" - a day that is anything but normal for the working class people, who face everyday hardships such as police brutality, poverty, and hunger. However, even in the midst of these struggles, the singer remains hopeful and determined. He has taken part in political activism, and he is proud of his city and his people. The song ends with an emotional tribute to the resilience of the people of Barcelona, who have overcome so much and continue to struggle for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Despertaven les llums de la postguerra
The lights of the post-war were waking up
quan vas fugir del món de la tristesa
when you ran away from the world of sadness
i amb la fam a les butxaques
and with hunger in your pockets
vas desfer-te les sabates
you took off your shoes
pels camins dels perdedors
on the roads of losers
obrers vençuts
defeated workers
penes al sol
sorrow in the sun
de Barcelona
of Barcelona
Arribaven les nits i tu tornaves
The nights arrived and you returned
al fang de les barraques oblidades
to the mud of forgotten shacks
misèries i corredisses
miseries and struggles
policies i pallisses
police and beatings
buscavides als cantons
searching in corners
cels plens de nit
skies full of night
als carrerons
in the streets
de Barcelona
of Barcelona
No temies els cops que t'esperaven
You didn't fear the hits that awaited you
quan vas alçar-te a les primeres vagues
when you stood up for the first strikes
militants d'amors i vides
activists of loves and lives
d'unes lluites clandestines
of some clandestine struggles
banderes roges al cel
red flags in the sky
somnis rebels
rebel dreams
sota els estels
under the stars
de Barcelona
of Barcelona
La vida et va deixar noves batalles
Life left you new battles
prenyades del demà que ens regalares
pregnant with the tomorrow you gave us
peus descalços a les platges
barefoot on the beaches
amors bruts onades blanques
raw loves white waves
uns vaixells salpant del port
some ships sailing from the port
i nou futur
and new future
a l'horitzó
on the horizon
de Barcelona
of Barcelona
I quan avui et veig emocionar-te
And when today I see you getting emotional
sent tot l'orgull de poder escoltar-te
feeling all the pride of being able to listen to you
la veu trencada, l'accent indomable
the broken voice, the untameable accent
d'un lluitador
of a fighter
supervivent
survivor
a Barcelona
in Barcelona
Contributed by Sydney M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.