Vocalist/guitarist David Hidalgo and drummer Louie Pérez met at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, and bonded over their mutual affinity for obscure musical acts such as Fairport Convention, Randy Newman and Ry Cooder. Pérez recalls, "We’re looking at each other, 'You like this stuff? I thought I was the only weird one.' So I went over to his house one day for about a year, which we spent listening to records, playing guitars, and starting to write songs." The two borrowed reel-to-reel recorders from a friend and created multi-track recordings of music spanning from parody songs to free-form jazz. They later enlisted fellow students Cesar Rosas and Conrad Lozano to complete the group's line-up in 1973.
Formed in the late 1970's, band members Dave Hidalgo, Cesar Rojas, Steve Berlin, Louie Pérez and Conrad Lozano became the bellwether for Mexican-American music in the U.S. when they recorded the music for "La Bamba" in 1987, which added popular acclaim to the critical praise they had received for their 1984 album "How Will the Wolf Survive?".
They have since become one of the mainstays of the Latin music scene as well as rock music in general, staying together through over 20 albums, and for almost three decades, through changing music climate and personal tragedies, they've continued cranking out albums and touring to dedicated fans.
Revolution
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't say that I know
Those times of revolution
Of burnin', burnin', burnin'
All so cool and gone
What was, just was
We tried, my brother
To hold on to our fate
Or was it late for revolution?
To tired, too tired, sister
To hold my fist so high
Now that it's gone
Too tired brother, sister
To hold my fist so high
Now that it's gone
Gone away.
Where did it go?
Can we say we know
Those times of revolution
Our time of revolution
These lyrics evoke nostalgia for a time of revolution; a time of burning passion and conflict, but also a time of hope for change. The singer is looking back on these times, wondering what has become of them. They are questioning whether they can even claim to know what those times were like, and whether they were truly as cool and revolutionary as they seemed. The use of repetition in the phrase "burnin', burnin', burnin'" creates an intense image of unrest and chaos.
The singer acknowledges that they and their fellow revolutionaries may have fought hard to hold on to their ideals, but still ultimately failed in their pursuit of a different world. The use of the word "late" suggests that perhaps they were too slow in their efforts, or that the system they were combating was too entrenched to be uprooted. The repeated refrain of being too tired to hold up their fists highlights the exhaustion and disillusionment of those who fought for a better future, only to see it slip away.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a generation that had once believed in the possibility of revolution, but now looks back with a sense of loss and longing for a past that can never be reclaimed.
Line by Line Meaning
Where did it go?
Questioning the disappearance of something valuable
Can't say that I know
Admitting a lack of knowledge or understanding
Those times of revolution
Referring to a specific era of social and political change
Of burnin', burnin', burnin'
Emphasizing the intensity of the revolution
All so cool and gone
Reflecting on how the revolutionary times have passed
What was, just was
Accepting the past and acknowledging that it can't be changed
We tried, my brother
Acknowledging effort made to hold on to the values of the revolution
To hold on to our fate
Struggling to maintain control over their destiny
Or was it late for revolution?
Questioning whether a revolution was necessary or possible
To tired, too tired, sister
Recognizing the exhaustion and demotivation felt by others involved in the revolution
To hold my fist so high
Unable to sustain the passionate and rebellious spirit of the revolution
Now that it's gone
Reflecting on the loss of the revolutionary era
Too tired, brother, sister
Again recognizing the fatigue and disillusionment felt by individuals involved in the revolution
Now that it's gone
Reiterating the idea of loss and the end of the revolutionary era
Gone away.
Concluding the song with a simple statement of fact - the revolution is over and there's no bringing it back
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9
Written by: DAVID KENT HIDALGO, LOUIS FRAUSTO PEREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jim Wood
on Me Estas Matando
I would like to learn this song. My Spanish is sufficient, but I require the lyrics. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jim Wood
on Me Estas Matando
I can't seem to find lyrics for this song. Can anyone help me out?