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.
Everybody Loves Me
Alejandro Escovedo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
everybody loves me everybody loves me
everybody loves me everybody loves me
everybody loves me
everybody loves me everybody loves me
everybody loves me everybody loves me
The repeated line "everybody loves me" in Alejandro Escovedo's song can be interpreted in a number of different ways. On the one hand, it could be seen as a joyful affirmation of the singer's popularity and widespread appeal. But there's a more melancholy interpretation, too. The repeated phrase has an air of desperation, as though the singer is trying to convince themselves that they are indeed loved and valued by others. The repetition of the phrase could be seen as an attempt to drown out any doubts or insecurities about their place in the world. The overall effect is both poignant and unsettling, suggesting that even those with apparent success and adulation can still feel lonely and disconnected.
There's another layer to the meaning of this song, too. By singing about how "everybody loves [them]," Escovedo is playing with the idea of celebrity and fame. The sad truth is that in our society, many people do equate love and admiration with fame and success. The repeated line could be read as a commentary on the hunger for attention and validation in a world where social media likes and follower counts are seen as proof of personal worth. In both interpretations, "Everybody Loves Me" is a song that taps into the human need for connection and validation, but also highlights how fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying those things can be when we try to find them through external sources.
Line by Line Meaning
everybody loves me everybody loves me
I am blessed with an extraordinary amount of affection from everyone around me.
everybody loves me everybody loves me
I have been showered with love and appreciation by every single person I have come across.
everybody loves me everybody loves me
I am grateful to have the love and support of so many people in my life.
everybody loves me
I am fortunate to have won the hearts of those around me.
Writer(s): Alejandro Escovedo
Contributed by Violet H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.