After a wildly successful tour across South America in late 2005, the band decided, in their own words, to "stop for a while". Some of their members went on to form side band projects such as No Relax and The Locos. As time went by without further notices, many Ska-P fans feared the band had been gone for good. On late April 2008 and for the rejoice of their worldwide fans, they announced their return as a band on their official site.
Their new album, "Lágrimas y gozos", was released the 7th of October 2008 and its first single is called "Crimen sollicitationis". The band is going to perform various shows around South America and Europe in November and December.
Official website: http://www.ska-p.net
Ciudadano Papagayo
Ska-P Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Adoro mí trabajo, voy a misa, soy muy majo
Ciudadano que respeta la ley
Y uso un buen banano para dilatarme el ano
Cuando hablamos del rey
Trabajo como un bestia "pa" ganar una miseria nena
Impongo el crucifijo a mi señora y a mis hijos
Y a la huelga yo no voy
Mamarracho!!!
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, bobo descerebrao
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, no razonas
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, me dan arcadas
Repites como un loro lo que dicen desde el televisor
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, así los quiere el "estao"
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, cocinaditos
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, me dan arcadas
Defiende con valor a tu verdugo, ríndete al domador
Oi! oi!
Buen chico, busca el palito, buen chico
Ligado a mi hipoteca, a mis impuestos, a mis letras
Y a mis cuotas del colegio "privao"
Pero le doy las gracias a esta linda democracia
Por ser esclavo "educao"
Repelencia y pena me dan los antisistema nena
Y no soporto a los los gays
Y rompen el decoro los sudacas y los moros
De mi glorioso país
Mamarracho!!!
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, bobo descerebrao
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, no razonas
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, me dan arcadas
Repites como un loro lo que dicen desde el televisor
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, así los quiere el "estao"
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, cocinaditos
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, me dan arcadas
Defiende con valor a tu verdugo, ríndete al domador
Piensas que no hay otra salida, que no hay nada mejor
Pregúntate quien es...
Quien alimenta tu ceguera, pregúntate quien es
Quien alimenta tus miserias, pregúntate quien es
Quien alimenta a tus demonios, pregúntate quien es
Pregúntate quien es, pregúntate quien es
Quien alimenta tu fracaso, pregúntate quien es
Quien alimenta tu obediencia, pregúntate quien es
Quien refuerza tus cadenas, pregúntate quien es
Pregúntate quien es, pregúntate quien es
Ay! Papapapa, ay papapapapa, ay papapapapa
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, bobo descerebrao
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, no razonas
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, me dan arcadas
Repites como un loro lo que dicen desde el televisor
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, así los quiere el "estao"
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, cocinaditos
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, me dan arcadas
Defiende con valor a tu verdugo, ríndete al domador
Te has convertido en un gracioso Papagayo
Eres el ciudadano prototipo anti revolución
Buen chico, busca el palito, buen chico
In "Ciudadano Papagayo" by Spanish punk band Ska-P, the lyrics criticize the conformist and apathetic attitude of citizens who blindly follow the government and media without questioning or thinking critically. The song starts with the ironic phrase "Good boy, look for the little stick" that refers to a common expression used to command a trained parrot that repeats what the owner says without understanding it. The verse then describes how the singer leads a seemingly conventional life: he loves his job, goes to church, respects the law, and wears a banana to dilate his anus (a metaphorical reference to the manipulation by the ruling class).
However, in the second verse, the lyrics reveal the character's conservative and oppressive ideology. He works hard for a low salary, supports the right-wing party, imposes his religion on his family, and believes that strikes and LGBTQ+ rights are inappropriate. The chorus then repeats several times the derogatory label "Papagayo" (meaning "parrot" in Spanish) to criticize those who mindlessly echo the media and government's discourse. The bridge questions who benefits from the citizen's blind obedience and encourages reflection on one's own role in perpetuating the system.
The song is a denunciation of consumerism, propaganda, and political apathy that urges listeners to be more aware and active in transforming society. Through humor and irony, Ska-P uses "Ciudadano Papagayo" to criticize the marginalized and oppressed for perpetuating their own exploitation by passively accepting the dominant narrative.
Line by Line Meaning
Buen chico, busca el palito, buen chico
Be a good boy and follow the rules set by the government.
Adoro mí trabajo, voy a misa, soy muy majo
I love my job and go to church every Sunday. I am a law-abiding citizen.
Ciudadano que respeta la ley
I am a good citizen who respects the law.
Y uso un buen banano para dilatarme el ano
I indulge in sexual desires that are not considered socially acceptable.
Cuando hablamos del rey
When it comes to the monarchy, I am a loyal follower.
Trabajo como un bestia 'pa' ganar una miseria nena
I work very hard to earn very little money, but I am content with it.
Y de derecha yo soy
I belong to the right-wing political ideology.
Impongo el crucifijo a mi señora y a mis hijos
I force my wife and children to abide by my religious beliefs.
Y a la huelga yo no voy
I don't participate in strikes or protests.
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, bobo descerebrao
You mindlessly repeat what you hear on TV without thinking critically.
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, no razonas
You don't use your logic or reasoning skills to form opinions or ideas.
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, me dan arcadas
Your behavior and beliefs disgust me.
Repites como un loro lo que dicen desde el televisor
You parrot the words you hear on TV without questioning their accuracy or validity.
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, así los quiere el 'estao'
The government wants you to be a mindless follower who doesn't question authority.
Ay! Papapapapapagayo, cocinaditos
The government wants to control your thoughts and actions completely.
Defiende con valor a tu verdugo, ríndete al domador
You defend those who oppress and control you, and you are submissive to authority.
Ligado a mi hipoteca, a mis impuestos, a mis letras
I am financially obligated to pay off my mortgage, taxes, and loans.
Y a mis cuotas del colegio 'privao'
I have to pay for my children's education at a private school.
Pero le doy las gracias a esta linda democracia
I am grateful to live in a democratic society.
Por ser esclavo 'educao'
But even in a democracy, I am still a slave to the government and its rules.
Repelencia y pena me dan los antisistema nena
I am disgusted and saddened by those who oppose the government system.
Y no soporto a los los gays
I am intolerant of people who are homosexual.
Y rompen el decoro los sudacas y los moros
I believe that people from South American and North African countries are uncivilized and break social norms.
Quien alimenta tu ceguera, pregúntate quien es
Think about who is feeding you information that clouds your judgment.
Quien alimenta tus miserias, pregúntate quien es
Think about who is causing your suffering and hardships.
Quien alimenta a tus demonios, pregúntate quien es
Think about who is encouraging your negative thoughts and behaviors.
Quien alimenta tu fracaso, pregúntate quien es
Think about who is preventing you from achieving success.
Quien alimenta tu obediencia, pregúntate quien es
Think about who is encouraging you to blindly follow authority.
Quien refuerza tus cadenas, pregúntate quien es
Think about who is keeping you in chains and preventing you from being free.
Te has convertido en un gracioso Papagayo
You have become a silly parrot who blindly repeats what others say.
Eres el ciudadano prototipo anti revolución
You represent the archetype of a citizen who is against revolutionary change.
Oi! Oi!
A chant commonly used in ska music.
Contributed by Elijah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.