My Interpretation of Me Gustas Tu

I tend to search for the meaning behind songs, especially for those that I obsess over. This normally comes in the form of reading articles about the singer’s process and intended meaning, genius lyrics, and forums. I couldn’t find much for this particular song (which fucking sucked because I love this song with all my soul), so I thought it would be fun to dissect it myself the same way genius does. This kind of reminds me of what we did in AP English Literature. “You have to make mountains out of molehills” - Mr. Garcia

¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

This recurring line acts as the song's central question. Manu keeps asking his heart what timezone it beats to. This is powerfully contrasted with the radio announcer who gives the literal time, giving his heart options. It also invokes the feeling of being romantically lost, losing track of time.

Te lo dije bien clarito
Permanece a la escucha
Permanece a la escucha

Doce de la noche en La Habana, Cuba
Once de la noche en San Salvador, El Salvador
Once de la noche en Managua, Nicaragua

Manu Chao's political awareness was ingrained in him from a young age. His parents emigrated to Paris to escape Francisco Franco's dictatorship after his grandfather was sentenced to death. The choice of La Habana, Cuba directly points to the Cuban Revolution and Che Guevara, whom Manu has honored in his music and performances. By referencing San Salvador and Managua, he evokes the histories of the Salvadoran Civil War and Nicaragua's Sandinista Revolution. All of these conflicts are defined by popular resistance against foreign backed regimes, most notably the United States. While Manu may seem unsure of his own identity, constantly asking his heart for the time, the specific locations he names reveal that his political spirit is firmly aligned with a timezone of independence and revolutionary ideals.

Me gustan los aviones, me gustas tú
Me gusta viajar, me gustas tú
Me gusta la mañana, me gustas tú
Me gusta el viento, me gustas tú
Me gusta soñar, me gustas tú
Me gusta la mar, me gustas tú

I classified everything Chao says he likes and broke it down into categories.
Travel:

• aviones
• Viajar
• La moto
• Correr
• volver

Manu Chao frames his life as a constant departure. His inclusion of "correr" suggests a need to escape feelings of displacement, while "volver" reveals the complex reality of his nomadic lifestyle, a cycle of movement fueled by a persistent sense of longing

¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais pas
¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus
¿Qué voy a hacer? Je suis perdu
¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

CLEARLY NOT DONE WITH THIS, I HAVE SCHOOL AND SHI