Alejandro Escovedo (born January 10, 1951, in San Antonio, Texas) is a Mexi… Read Full Bio ↴Alejandro Escovedo (born January 10, 1951, in San Antonio, Texas) is a Mexican-American singer-songwriter.

Escovedo's family tree includes former Santana percussionist Pete Escovedo and Pete's daughter, Sheila E (also Prince's former drummer and later a pop star). He began his music career with the Nuns, a mid-'70s punk band based in San Francisco. He co-founded the pioneering cowpunk band Rank and File in 1979, which moved to Austin, Texas, in 1981 after a stint in New York City. The band released Sundown on Slash Records in 1982, but shortly after, Escovedo left to form the True Believers with brother Javier. The band recorded two albums for EMI and toured the country, often as an opening act for Los Lobos. However, EMI opted not to release the second album, which eventually led to the group's break-up. (It eventually surfaced as a bonus item when Rykodisc reissued the first set on CD in 1994.)

Escovedo released a solo album in 1992 on Watermelon Records, Gravity, uniting his wide variety of styles; the album was produced by Stephen Bruton of Bonnie Raitt's band. Escovedo also began gigging periodically with the band Buick MacKane, who fused old-school punk with 70's glam rock; after Rykodisc released Escovedo's With These Hands in 1996, they followed it up with Buick MacKane's long-awaited album. After Escovedo parted ways with Rykodisc, he signed with the Chicago-based alt-country label Bloodshot in 1998, who released the live album More Miles Than Money: Live 1994-1996 and the acclaimed studio set A Man Under The Influence.

In April of 2003, Escovedo collapsed following a show in Phoenix, AZ, and he was subsequently diagnosed with Hepatitis C. An outpouring of support from musicians led to a series of successful benefit concerts to help pay Escovedo's medical expenses and keep his music before the public, followed by a tribute album, Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo, which was released in 2004.

In June 2010, Escovedo released Street Songs of Love.

Bottom Of The World
Alejandro Escovedo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Austin’s changed, it’s true
Show me what hasn’t
Tonight the TV's throwing colors on the wall
As watches cities of the world reduced to ashes
From where I sit, at the bottom of the world
Oh, there used to be a phone booth
Down here on every corner
He used to call me up just to say my name

But now anybody get is a busy signal
No I can’t call home, from the bottom of the world
She said, hey paper boy
Don’t you think it’s time you delivered
I said say the word, your wish is my command

You may think you know all there is to know about me
You might think the beast is in the cage
But everything you see is just an illusion
It’s about to get real, at the bottom of the world
Oh, hey little boy, little boy you look a little frightened
For these awful kind of streets for walking alone
So why don’t you get yourself home back to Houston

I don’t think you’re ready, for the bottom of the world
No I don’t think you’re ready, for the bottom of the world.

Overall Meaning

The song "Bottom of the World" by Alejandro Escovedo talks about the changes in the city of Austin and how the city has evolved over time. The singer reflects on how the city has changed and questions what hasn't changed in the city. The music video plays in the background, and the imagery of buildings collapsing and burning is reminiscent of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. From where the singer sits at the bottom of the world, he watches as cities around the world are reduced to ashes, providing an apocalyptic vision of the world.

The singer takes the listener on a journey, reflecting on the past and the present. He talks about the changes in the city, like the disappearance of phone booths on every corner. The song expresses the idea that things are not as they seem, and the illusion is about to end. The song speaks to the listener's desire to go home, to get off the streets, to escape the bottom of the world. The song's meaning is ambiguous, but it could be interpreted as a warning about war and violence, or a call to action to make the world a better place.

Line by Line Meaning

Austin’s changed, it’s true
The city of Austin has undergone noticeable transformation and alteration.

Show me what hasn't
Challenge the notion that anything remains unaffected by change.

Tonight the TV's throwing colors on the wall
Images on the television screen are illuminating the room with vibrant hues.

As watches cities of the world reduced to ashes
Observing global destruction unfold before eyes glued to the TV screen.

From where I sit, at the bottom of the world
From my current vantage point, I feel quite low and powerless.

Oh, there used to be a phone booth
There was once a public telephone booth located nearby.

Down here on every corner
The booths were a ubiquitous visual on every street corner.

He used to call me up just to say my name
He would phone me just to offer a gesture of recognition by speaking my name aloud.

But now anybody get is a busy signal
Attempts to reach someone via phone are unsuccessful, only resulting in a busy signal.

No I can’t call home, from the bottom of the world
Feeling cut off and isolated, unable to connect with the idea of home or one's support network.

She said, hey paper boy
A female individual addresses the young man delivering newspapers.

Don’t you think it’s time you delivered
Urging the paper boy to complete his job and to distribute newspapers.

I said say the word, your wish is my command
The paper boy readily agrees to follow the singer's direction and carry out their wishes.

You may think you know all there is to know about me
A challenge to preconceived notions and an assertion that individuals should beware assumptions or overconfidence.

You might think the beast is in the cage
One might presume the singer's difficulties are contained or under control.

But everything you see is just an illusion
The outward appearance or veneer conceals a deeper, much more complex reality.

It’s about to get real, at the bottom of the world
Impending realization that the situation is dire and real.

Oh, hey little boy, little boy you look a little frightened
Addressing a young person who currently appears to be scared or overwhelmed by the world around them.

For these awful kind of streets for walking alone
The streets are particularly treacherous and dangerous for someone without support or protection to traverse solo.

So why don’t you get yourself home back to Houston
Encouraging the child to seek the safety and comfort of their home in Houston, Texas.

I don’t think you’re ready, for the bottom of the world
The artist doubts the child is prepared to confront the harsh realities of the world at its lowest point.

No I don’t think you’re ready, for the bottom of the world
Repeating a sentiment of doubt concerning the child's ability to face the difficult truths of existence.

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, BMG Rights Management, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO, CHUCK PROPHET

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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