Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of repeated police brutality and unjust imprisonment. The narrator describes a cycle of violence, "Vuelta a empezar" (Starting over), and "Una vez mas" (One more time), highlighting the relentless nature of these encounters. The physical toll is evident, with descriptions like "Lleno de ostias" (Full of blows) and "Un ojo morao" (A black eye), suggesting a deliberate infliction of pain by "Maltrata la autoridad" (The authority mistreats). The central tension lies in the narrator's experience of being subjected to "terrorismo policial" (police terrorism) and "represión fascista" (fascist repression). This isn't just about individual encounters; it's about a systemic issue where families are torn apart, as indicated by "Familias rotas" (Broken families) and the news of someone being locked up. The phrase "Una condena sin razón" (A sentence without reason) underscores the perceived injustice and lack of legitimate cause for these actions. A powerful image emerges from the lines about cigarette butts: "Si existen las colillas es que aquí han fumao" (If cigarette butts exist, it means people have smoked here). This simple observation becomes evidence of presence, and in this context, evidence of the narrator's struggle and subsequent arrest for "sacar una bandera" (taking out a flag). The lyrics then shift to a collective call for action, "Presos a la calle vamos a gritar" (Prisoners to the streets we will shout), and a report of "Trece personas han sido detenidas" (Thirteen people have been arrested), with "Diez de ellas han sufrido malos tratos" (Ten of them have suffered mistreatment). This emphasizes the widespread nature of the abuse. The concluding lines, "A kilómetros de su gente / Se intentan comunicar / Señales de humo verán" (Kilometers from their people / They try to communicate / They will see smoke signals), evoke a profound sense of isolation and the desperate, perhaps primitive, methods used to reach out when conventional communication is impossible. It suggests a deep disconnect between the imprisoned and their loved ones, a struggle for connection across vast distances and oppressive silence, driven by a fight for a cause they believe in.