Song guide

Me Gustas Tu

Manu Chao

Me Gustas Tu by Manu Chao, line by line: what the lyrics mean, 20 expressions explained and 438 words translated with their grammar. Learn Spanish from the song, free.

68 lines translated 438 words explained 20 expressions

Lyrics with English translation, line by line

Each line as sung, what it means, and — where it needs one — why it's said that way.

  1. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

    The opening line is the title of the song 'Qué horas son, mi corazón' by the Spanish band Manu Chao, from the 1998 album 'Clandestino'. The phrase sets a dreamy, disoriented tone — the speaker doesn't know what time it is, suggesting emotional confusion.

  2. Te lo dije bien clarito

    I told you that very clearly

  3. Permanece a la escucha

    Stay tuned

    'Permanece a la escucha' is a phrase used by Spanish-language radio broadcasters, equivalent to 'Stay tuned'. It evokes the atmosphere of late-night radio, which is a recurring theme in the song.

  4. Permanece a la escucha

    Stay tuned

  5. Doce de la noche en La Habana, Cuba

    Midnight in Havana, Cuba

    La Habana (Havana) is the capital of Cuba. Manu Chao has strong ties to Latin America and frequently references specific cities in his music to evoke a sense of place and political solidarity. The song lists real cities and their local times, like a radio time-check broadcast.

  6. Once de la noche en San Salvador, El Salvador

    11 p.m. in San Salvador, El Salvador

    San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador. The mention of Central American capitals reflects Manu Chao's political engagement with Latin American struggles and his music's pan-Latin American identity.

  7. Once de la noche en Managua, Nicaragua

    11 p.m. in Managua, Nicaragua

    Managua is the capital of Nicaragua. In the 1980s, Nicaragua was the site of the Sandinista revolution, a cause célèbre for many left-wing European artists including Manu Chao's father.

  8. Me gustan los aviones, me gustas tú

    I like airplanes; I like you

  9. Me gusta viajar, me gustas tú

    I like to travel; I like you

  10. Me gusta la mañana, me gustas tú

    I like the morning; I like you

  11. Me gusta el viento, me gustas tú

    I like the wind; I like you

  12. Me gusta soñar, me gustas tú

    I like to dream; I like you

  13. Me gusta la mar, me gustas tú

    I love the ocean; I love you

  14. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais pas

    What am I going to do? I don't know

    The French phrases 'Je ne sais pas' (I don't know), 'Je ne sais plus' (I don't know anymore), and 'Je suis perdu' (I am lost) reflect Manu Chao's French-Spanish bilingual background. Born in Paris to Spanish parents, he frequently mixes French, Spanish, English, and Portuguese in his songs as a signature style.

  15. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus

    What am I going to do? I don't know anymore

  16. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je suis perdu

    What am I going to do? I am lost

  17. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  18. Me gusta la moto, me gustas tú

    I like the motorcycle; I like you

  19. Me gusta correr, me gustas tú

    I like running; I like you

  20. Me gusta la lluvia, me gustas tú

    I like the rain; I like you

  21. Me gusta volver, me gustas tú

    I like coming back; I like you

  22. Me gusta marihuana, me gustas tú

    I like marijuana; I like you

    The lyric 'Me gusta marihuana' is one of several provocative lines in the song. Manu Chao is known for addressing taboo subjects directly in his lyrics as part of his countercultural, anti-establishment artistic stance.

  23. Me gusta colombiana, me gustas tú

    I like Colombian women; I like you

    'Colombiana' here refers to Colombian women. The line has been noted as controversial. In the context of the song's stream-of-consciousness style, it lists things the singer likes, mixing the mundane with the provocative.

  24. Me gusta la montaña, me gustas tú

    I like the mountains; I like you

  25. Me gusta la noche (Me gustas tú)

    I like the night; I like you

  26. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais pas

    What am I going to do? I don't know

  27. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus

    What am I going to do? I don't know anymore

  28. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je suis perdu

    What am I going to do? I am lost

  29. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  30. Doce, un minuto

    Twelve, one minute past

    The line 'Doce, un minuto' (Twelve, one minute) mimics the terse style of a radio time announcement, as if the song itself is a late-night radio broadcast. It also suggests the passage of time — midnight has just ticked past by one minute.

  31. Me gusta la cena, me gustas tú

    I like dinner; I like you

  32. Me gusta la vecina, me gustas tú

    I like the girl next door; I like you

  33. Me gusta su cocina, me gustas tú

    I like her cooking; I like you

  34. Me gusta camelar, me gustas tú

    I like to flirt; I like you

    'Camelar' comes from Caló, the language of the Spanish Romani (Gitano) people. Many Caló words have entered everyday Spanish slang, especially in southern Spain. This reflects the deep influence of Romani culture on Spanish popular music and language.

  35. Me gusta la guitarra, me gustas tú

    I like the guitar; I like you

  36. Me gusta el reggae, me gustas tú

    I like reggae; I like you

  37. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais pas

    What am I going to do? I don't know

  38. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus

    What am I going to do? I don't know anymore

  39. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je suis perdu

    What am I going to do? I am lost

  40. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  41. Me gusta la canela, me gustas tú

    I like cinnamon; I like you

  42. Me gusta el fuego, me gustas tú

    I like fire; I like you

  43. Me gusta menear, me gustas tú

    I like to dance; I like you

  44. Me gusta La Coruña, me gustas tú

    I like La Coruña; I like you

    La Coruña (also spelled A Coruña in Galician) is a coastal city in Galicia, northwestern Spain. Its mention alongside Malasaña (a neighborhood in Madrid) grounds the song in specific Spanish geography, contrasting with the Latin American cities mentioned earlier.

  45. Me gusta Malasaña, me gustas tú

    I like Malasaña; I like you

    Malasaña is a neighborhood in central Madrid, historically associated with the countercultural Movida Madrileña movement of the late 1970s and 1980s — a period of artistic and social liberation after Franco's dictatorship. It remains a bohemian, youth-oriented district.

  46. Me gusta la castaña, me gustas tú

    I like chestnuts; I like you

  47. Me gusta Guatemala (Me gustas tú)

    I like Guatemala; I like you

  48. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais pas

    What am I going to do? I don't know

  49. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus

    What am I going to do? I don't know anymore

  50. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je suis perdu

    What am I going to do? I am lost

  51. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  52. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais pas

    What am I going to do? I don't know

  53. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus

    What am I going to do? I don't know anymore

  54. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je suis perdu

    What am I going to do? I am lost

  55. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  56. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais pas

    What am I going to do? I don't know

  57. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais plus

    What am I going to do? I don't know anymore

  58. ¿Qué voy a hacer? Je suis perdu

    What am I going to do? I am lost

  59. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  60. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  61. (¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?)

    What time is it, my love?

  62. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  63. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  64. ¿Qué horas son, mi corazón?

    What time is it, my love?

  65. Cuatro de la mañana

    Four in the morning

  66. Radio Reloj, cinco de la mañana

    Radio Reloj, five in the morning

    'Radio Reloj' (Clock Radio) is a famous Cuban radio station founded in 1947, known for broadcasting the time every minute, 24 hours a day, along with news. It is an iconic institution in Cuban culture and a perfect reference for a song obsessed with what time it is.

  67. No todo lo que es oro brilla

    All that glitters is not gold

    This is a Spanish rendering of the proverb made famous in English by Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' (1596): 'All that glitters is not gold.' The proverb exists in many languages and warns against judging by appearances. Its appearance near the end of the song adds a philosophical, cautionary note.

  68. Remedio chino e infalible

    A Chinese and foolproof remedy

    'Remedio chino e infalible' (A Chinese and foolproof remedy) is a humorous, ironic phrase. 'Remedio chino' is a colloquial Spanish expression for a dubious or folk remedy, often used sarcastically. The addition of 'infalible' (infallible) heightens the irony — claiming a folk cure is guaranteed to work.

Expressions and idioms in “Me Gustas Tu”

The lines that don't mean what the dictionary says.

¿Qué horas son? What time is it?
The standard Spanish way to ask the time. The verb ser (to be) is used in the plural (son) because it agrees with 'horas' (hours). Compare: '¿Qué hora es?' (singular, also correct) vs '¿Qué horas son?' (plural, more colloquial).
mi corazón my love / my heart
Literally 'my heart', but used as a term of endearment in Spanish, equivalent to calling someone 'my love' or 'darling' in English. The possessive 'mi' drops its accent when not used as a pronoun.
bien clarito very clearly / crystal clear
The diminutive suffix '-ito' added to 'claro' (clear) creates 'clarito', which intensifies rather than diminishes here — a common feature of Spanish diminutives used for emphasis or affection. 'Bien' before an adjective or adverb means 'very' in colloquial speech.
Te lo dije I told you (it)
A double-pronoun construction: 'te' (indirect object, 'to you') + 'lo' (direct object, 'it') + verb. In Spanish, when both pronouns appear together, the indirect object always comes first. 'Dije' is the preterite (past) of 'decir'.
Permanece a la escucha Stay tuned / Stay listening
The fixed phrase 'a la escucha' means 'on the listen' or 'tuned in'. It is a set expression used in broadcasting contexts. 'Permanecer a la escucha' is the formal way to say 'stay tuned' on Spanish radio.
Doce de la noche Midnight / Twelve at night
Spanish uses 'de la noche' (of the night) to specify p.m. hours, and 'de la mañana' for a.m. hours. 'Doce de la noche' = midnight, while 'doce del mediodía' = noon. There is no direct equivalent of 'a.m./p.m.' in Spanish.
Me gustan los aviones I like airplanes
The verb 'gustar' works in reverse compared to English: the subject is what is liked ('los aviones'), and the person who likes it is the indirect object ('me'). Because 'aviones' is plural, the verb is 'gustan' (plural). Literally: 'Airplanes are pleasing to me.'
me gustas tú I like you
When the thing liked is a person ('tú'), 'gustar' conjugates in the 2nd person singular: 'gustas'. The subject pronoun 'tú' is placed at the end for emphasis and rhythm. Literally: 'You are pleasing to me.' This is the song's central refrain and a perfect model of how 'gustar' works with people.
Me gusta viajar I like to travel
When 'gustar' is followed by a verb, that verb stays in the infinitive and the conjugated form of 'gustar' is always 3rd person singular ('gusta'), because the infinitive acts as the subject. Pattern: me gusta + infinitive = I like to [verb].
Me gusta soñar I like to dream
'Soñar' (to dream) is a stem-changing verb: the 'o' changes to 'ue' in stressed syllables (e.g., 'sueño' = I dream). Here it appears as an infinitive after 'gusta', so no stem change occurs. Note that 'soñar con' (to dream about/of) requires the preposition 'con' when followed by a noun.
la mar the sea / the ocean
'Mar' (sea) is normally masculine in Spanish ('el mar'), but in poetic, literary, and nautical usage it is often treated as feminine ('la mar'). The feminine form 'la mar' has a more lyrical, romantic quality and is common in poetry and song.
¿Qué voy a hacer? What am I going to do?
The construction 'ir a + infinitive' expresses near future or intention in Spanish, equivalent to 'going to' in English. 'Voy a hacer' = 'I am going to do'. This is one of the most common ways to express future plans in everyday Spanish.
Me gusta volver I like coming back / I like to return
'Volver' means 'to return' or 'to come back'. Note that 'volver a + infinitive' is a separate periphrastic construction meaning 'to do something again' (e.g., 'vuelvo a cantar' = I sing again). Here 'volver' stands alone as the infinitive subject of 'gustar'.
Me gusta colombiana I like Colombian women
Here the adjective 'colombiana' (Colombian, feminine) is used as a noun without an article, referring to Colombian women. Spanish frequently drops the article when using nationalities as nouns in informal or lyrical speech.
Doce, un minuto Twelve, one minute (past)
A clipped, radio-announcer style of giving the time. In full it would be 'las doce y un minuto' (twelve and one minute). The song strips the phrase to its bare essentials, mimicking the terse style of a clock radio announcement.
su cocina her/his cooking / her/his kitchen
The possessive 'su' is ambiguous in Spanish — it can mean his, her, their, or your (formal). In context, referring back to 'la vecina' (the female neighbor) in the previous line, 'su cocina' most naturally means 'her cooking' or 'her kitchen'. 'Cocina' can mean both the room (kitchen) and the act/skill of cooking.
Me gusta camelar I like to flirt / I like to charm
'Camelar' is a colloquial Spanish verb, originally from Romani/Caló (the language of Spanish Gypsies), meaning to flirt, to sweet-talk, or to win someone over with charm. It is widely used in informal Spanish, especially in Spain.
Me gusta menear I like to move / I like to shake / I like to dance
'Menear' literally means to shake or to move something. In a musical/dance context it colloquially means to move one's body to the rhythm, i.e., to dance. The translation 'I like to dance' in the lyrics is a loose but contextually accurate rendering.
No todo lo que es oro brilla All that glitters is not gold
This is the Spanish version of the English proverb 'All that glitters is not gold' (originally from Shakespeare). The Spanish construction 'no todo lo que...' (not everything that...) uses 'lo que' as a neuter relative pronoun meaning 'that which'. The word order differs from English but the meaning is identical.
e infalible and infallible
The conjunction 'y' (and) changes to 'e' before words beginning with the 'i' sound (including 'hi-') to avoid the awkward sound of two 'i' sounds in a row. This is a standard spelling rule in Spanish: 'y' → 'e' before 'i' or 'hi'.

Vocabulary to learn from “Me Gustas Tu”

The words the song uses most.

Verbs in the song, and the form being sung

Present tense for each; the highlighted row is the one you'll hear.

gustar are pleasing

sung: gustan
gustar — present tense
yo gusto
tú gustas
él / ella / usted gusta
nosotros gustamos
vosotros gustáis
ellos / ustedes gustan

ir I go / I am going

sung: voy irregular
ir — present tense
yo voy
tú vas
él / ella / usted va
nosotros vamos
vosotros vais
ellos / ustedes van

hacer to do / to make

irregular
hacer — present tense
yo hago
tú haces
él / ella / usted hace
nosotros hacemos
vosotros hacéis
ellos / ustedes hacen

ser are

sung: son irregular
ser — present tense
yo soy
tú eres
él / ella / usted es
nosotros somos
vosotros sois
ellos / ustedes son

permanecer stay / remain

sung: permanece irregular
permanecer — present tense
yo permanezco
tú permaneces
él / ella / usted permanece
nosotros permanecemos
vosotros permanecéis
ellos / ustedes permanecen

Grammar you'll meet in this song

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