¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños? Lyrics in English MANA

Pudriendo is the present participle of the verb pudrir, which means 'to rot' or 'to decay'. It's a very strong, visual word you won't hear in a typical pop song.

Maná uses it in the stark, emotional line "Se está pudriendo el mundo" (The world is rotting). This isn't literal, but a powerful metaphor for the environmental destruction and pollution destroying the planet, leaving no place for children to play. This word perfectly captures the song's urgent and unforgettable message.

Where will the children play? That is the urgent question at the heart of ¿Dónde Jugarán Los Niños? by the Mexican rock band Maná. The singer starts by sharing his grandfather’s nostalgic memories of a childhood filled with crystal-clear rivers, bright flowers, homemade kites, and endless laughter. Nature was once a vibrant playground… but that carefree picture fades fast.

Maná then pulls us into the present, painting a stark contrast: oceans vomiting oil, skies cracked with gray tears, and a planet “about to split in two.” With every image, the song delivers a wake-up call about environmental destruction and its toll on future generations. It is part lament, part protest anthem, and part rallying cry that leaves listeners asking along with the band: “¿Dónde diablos jugarán los pobres niños?”