From the White House to el barrio, Tish Hinojosa has enchanted, enlightened and entertained countless listeners with her distinctive cross-cultural music. In the process, she has become one of the most acclaimed and beloved artists in the contemporary Latin and folk scene. With a purity of voice and a vision that also embraces pop, rock, tejano and international styles into her music, she reflects modern America's multicultural richness with sincerity, heart and a winning musicality.
Family, music and a multicultural perspective were hallmarks of Hinojosa's years growing up in San Antonio, where she began performing as a teen. Alongside the traditional Mexican songs she inherited from her parents, she was inspired by the pop and rock artists she and her older siblings listened to along with the folk revival of the early 1960s. Performing in her hometown as well as doing stints in Taos and Nashville, she eventually landed in the renowned Austin, TX music scene. Her debut album, "Homeland", found Hinojosa weaving all the threads of her musical ethos into a stunning tapestry that immediately put her on the international musical map. With her release, "Culture Swing", Hinojosa won the NAIRD Award for Best Folk Album.
Over the eleven subsequent releases, countless tours of North America and Europe, Hinojosa developed a loving and loyal audience and has explored a wide range of musical expression. Her music and social activism has won her numerous awards and accolades, including recognition by Fox TV's Bravo Honors and a Las Primeras (The Firsts) Award from MANA, the largest organization of Latina women. Hinojosa is frequently asked to appear at events, make cultural contributions and work on behalf of children, bilingual education, civil liberties, immigration, farm workers, multicultural organizations, and other humanitarian causes. Recent examples include: the National Bilingual Educators conference; the National Council of La Raza's conference, including performances at the event recognizing Latinas; the National Latino Children's Agenda, honoring the work of Latino legislators; a Capitol Hill reception publicizing the plight of Latino children during Hispanic Heritage Week, in Washington, DC; the Hispanic Women in Leadership's national conference; local spokesperson, PSA's, and events for Any Baby Can which provides aid to families of children with chronic illness or handicaps; a reception at the MAFO (farm worker organizations coalition) conference. She performed at the Hispanic Gala and at other events at the 1993 inauguration of the President of the United States and for the National Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Conference. Tish was also invited to perform at The White House for President and Mrs. Clinton.
Linda Ronstadt has recorded Hinojosa’s songs among many others. She has recorded with Lucinda Williams, Joan Baez, Dwight Yoakum, Kris Kristofferson, Albert Lee and Nancy Griffith to name just a few. Along the way, Tish has performed with various eminent symphonies throughout the United States. Her albums have been favorites on radio stations around the world, consistently winning critical praise and making annual Top 10 lists both nationally and internationally. Her appeal reaches both Anglo and Hispanic listeners. Since 1996, Tish has forged a separate career as a children's music artist with the release of “Cada Niño” (Every Child) CD and illustrated songbook in Spanish and English. The 2005 release of “A Heart Wide Open” has added to her stature as an American musical treasure.
Official site: http://www.mundotish.com/
Manos Huesos y Sangre
Tish Hinojosa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something in a heart lives forever
Thousand words painted by love's broken stroke
Master and slave you were both
Eyes serving as our own mirror
Of passion and pleasure and pain
Costume and face of a story
Mother of dreams who would dare to predict
Women would dream by your name
Restless the eagle still chained by the wing
Frida are you sleeping in peace?
The lyrics of Tish Hinojosa's song "Manos Huesos y Sangre" are a tribute to the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who is known for her powerful and emotive art that portrayed her physical and emotional pain. The first verse talks about the transient nature of human life and how even the strongest and most formidable aspects of our existence, like our hands, bones, and blood, will eventually wither away. However, the second line alludes to the idea that something within the human heart may endure beyond our physical form. The next line continues the theme of impermanence, as love's broken stroke is described as painting a thousand words. The final line of this verse equates the master and slave dynamic to illustrate the complexity of human relationships.
The second verse introduces the idea of the eyes serving as a mirror, reflecting our deepest emotions like passion, pleasure, and pain. The line about a "costume and face of a story" suggests that our outward appearance can be deceiving, and that we carry our personal history with us wherever we go. The mention of "yesterday's stain" adds a layer of regret or shame, indicating that the past may continue to haunt us. The next line shifts the focus to Frida Kahlo herself, acknowledging her as the mother of dreams, a woman whose artistic vision and life story would become a source of inspiration for generations of women to come. The final line poses a melancholic question, wondering if Frida is finally at peace after a life filled with turmoil and pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Crumbling hands, bones and blood will be gone
Our physical bodies will eventual crumble and fade away
Something in a heart lives forever
The intangible essence of a person, their spirit or soul, transcends physical death
Thousand words painted by love's broken stroke
Love can be complex and sometimes painful, but it has the power to create beauty and inspiration
Master and slave you were both
Relationships can be complex, and sometimes both people involved can alternate between being in the dominant or submissive role
Eyes serving as our own mirror
One's own eyes can reveal a lot about their innermost thoughts and feelings
Of passion and pleasure and pain
Our experiences in life can be full of intense emotions, both good and bad
Costume and face of a story
Our outward appearance and the story we present to others can be carefully curated and constructed
Bearing that yesterday's stain
Our past experiences and mistakes can leave a lasting mark on us
Mother of dreams who would dare to predict
Frida Kahlo, as a symbol of creativity and inspiration, would be difficult to predict or fully understand
Women would dream by your name
Frida Kahlo's legacy has inspired and empowered many women to pursue their own dreams and passions
Restless the eagle still chained by the wing
Even something as powerful and free as an eagle can still be held back or restrained in some way
Frida are you sleeping in peace?
A question about the state of Frida Kahlo's afterlife and whether or not she has found peace
Contributed by Joshua D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.