Son Miserables were a Panamanian band who started out in 1991. They were p… Read Full Bio ↴Son Miserables were a Panamanian band who started out in 1991. They were particularly known for their use of acoustic instruments, which they mixed with local musical elements. Their style of music has been defined as a combination between pop, rock and Latin American folklore; easy listening.

The band's influences are varied and go from James Taylor to Rubén Blades, as well as The Beatles, Silvio Rodríguez and Caetano Veloso.
In 1996, Son Miserables signed a record deal with Kiwi Records, for the recording of their first album, a self-titled record, at Origen Studios, in Panama City. «Son Miserables» was realeased into the Panamanian market on November 1st, 1996, and ranked among the best-selling albums in local stores, and one of the most requested in local radio stations.

Son Miserables have shared the stage with Rubén Blades, both in Panamá and Puerto Rico, as part of Blades' tour «La Rosa de los Vientos». Later, they recorded a duet with Blades entitled «No te miento» (Son Miserables) that was included in «Red, Hot & Latin», an album whose sales were destined for the fight against AIDS.

In 1998, Son Miserables started working on their second album, this time with the collaboration of John Karpowich, who has worked with Santana, Ricky Martin, Seal and Yes. The second album included 13 tracks that continued Son Miserables' simple, narrative style, but with a more elaborate production. The album was released in 1999, and included popular singles such as «Marchita la flor», «La solución» and «Solo las estrellas bastarán».

In November 2003, the band announced their dissolution and gave a last official performance at the 2003 PanamaRock Awards in Panama City.

Trágico desliz
Son Miserables Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Desafortunadamente anoche fui
La víctima de un trágico desliz,
De ésos que me llevan poco a poco
Más y más lejos de ti
Y me llora el corazón

Si es verdad que es bella
pero nunca puede ella

Contigo competir
Hace falta la manera
y hace falta la madera
Que no puede conseguir,
no la venden por ahí

Fuera ya, vida enmascarada,
déjame creer
Ya nunca duermo en paz,
mi conciencia me grita
Y que hay de la dignidad?
Tan sólo una palabra
que no significa nada Para mí.

Supe maniobrar hábilmente para nunca divulgar
Porque no estuve allí
Un paradero siempre con coartada
Que no te dice nada
Porque en el fondo sabes que no es realidad

Y en tus sueños siempre me verás volar
En directo y a todo color
Estoy riéndome de ti
En mi locura vuelo bajo,
alejándome hasta el fin
Al despertar te secas una lágrima
Y mi nombre llamas

Fuera ya vida enmascarada,
déjame creer
Ya nunca duermo en paz,
mi conciencia me grita
Y que hay de la dignidad?

Tan sólo una palabra
Que no significa nada para mí....

Overall Meaning

In "Trágico desliz," Son Miserables presents a story of regret and guilt over a mistake made, leading to an inevitable separation from a loved one. The lyrics describe the singer as a victim of a tragic mistake that takes them further away from their partner. The mistake seems to have caused irreparable damage to their relationship, and this haunts the singer's conscience. The song reflects on the emotions of betrayal, deceit and regret, a powerful combination that adds to the emotional tone of the song. The singer appears to be trapped behind a mask that they have constructed, hiding their true feelings from the person they love.

The chorus gives a nod to the concept of "dignity" and the value this one word is supposed to hold - but it rings empty for the singer. The lyrics suggest that the singer has lost his sense of dignity and even suggests that the word "dignity" has lost its meaning in his life due to the tragedy he has caused. The song's ending offers a glimpse of hope but also hints at a sad reality. The singer remarks that even in the other person's dreams of him, he is not himself, highlighting just how impossible reconciliation can be as he hurt them in a way that cannot easily be forgotten.

Line by Line Meaning

Desafortunadamente anoche fui
Last night unfortunately I became

La víctima de un trágico desliz,
The victim of a tragic mistake,

De ésos que me llevan poco a poco
Of those that slowly lead me

Más y más lejos de ti
Further and further away from you

Y me llora el corazón
And my heart is crying

Si es verdad que es bella
If it is true that she is beautiful

pero nunca puede ella
But she can never

Contigo competir
Compete with you

Hace falta la manera
It takes a certain way

y hace falta la madera
And it takes the quality

Que no puede conseguir,
That she cannot attain